Youth Theatre Ireland has been awarded €50,000 from the RTÉ Toy Show Appeal grants by Community Foundation Ireland.
Empower Youth Theatre Encounter: Creativity for All, offers a transformative residential experience where young people with disabilities and/or other barriers for participation engage in fun, artistic, skill-building and social activities over three days.
This unique event will provide a safe and welcoming environment for young people ages 12-18 to explore their creativity, learn new skills, and build connections with like-minded young people from youth theatres across Ireland to help develop their social, artistic, and personal development.
Workshops will also foster confidence, self-expression, teamwork and a chance to flourish alongside their peers. In addition, participants have opportunities for informal social interactions and a host of planned activities.
Funding from this grant means that up to 40 young people and 40 adult leaders can take part in the festival. All expenses including meals, accommodation, and activities are provided on-site, ensuring that all participants have equal access to the experience regardless of their financial circumstances. Travel expenses for all participants will be covered and bursaries will also be available for leaders most in need to attend and support their members.
In addition, Youth Theatre Ireland will be able to run a two-day training for participating leaders utilising the existing resource ‘A Handbook for Youth Theatre Facilitators; Supporting Young People on the Autism Spectrum’ created in 2020 through a partnership project between Youth Theatre Ireland and AsIAm.
This training will have a further impact on our wider youth theatre community, giving leaders skills to work with young people on the Autism Spectrum within their youth theatres and other contexts.
Speaking on the announcement of the grant, Alan King, Deputy of Youth Theatre Ireland said
“We are absolutely thrilled to be awarded this grant from the RTÉ Toy Show Appeal. The aim is to create a supportive community where everyone's voice is valued and heard. Currently 18% of youth theatre members report a disability, a disability rate 9% higher than the national average (identified through the Census 2016.)
By bringing together young people from diverse backgrounds and abilities, Empower Youth Theatre Encounter: Creativity for All promotes inclusivity and fosters a sense of belonging within the youth theatre community. The event aims to empower participants to realise their creative potential, break down barriers, and inspire positive change both within themselves and in their broader communities.
This funding will allow Youth Theatre Ireland to run a new project, that will hopefully become a regular event on the YTI programme. It allows us to engage with members in new and unique ways. Youth Theatre Ireland is most grateful to the RTÉ Toy Show Appeal and the Community Foundation Ireland for this most generous award."
The project will commence in 2025 with further details to be announced.