Find Your Talent

About Find Your Talent

A musical encounter at the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic

Find Your Talent was a landmark £25 million national government programme which asked the question: 'what would it take to give every young person the chance to experience cultural activities for at least five hours a week?' The programme explored the question through ten pathfinder projects across the country, each of which approached the question in very different ways and from within a very different context. Each pathfinder also looked at how the cultural and children's sectors could collaborate more effectively to ensure wider and better support for children and young people.

The Liverpool City Region pathfinder focused on three issues:

• exploring how to deliver a cultural offer for every child and young person aged from 0 to 19 in one target area in each of the local authority areas - these were City and North Neighbourhood in Liverpool, Kirkby in Knowsley and the South East Community Partnership and Thatto Heath areas of St Helens.
• developing a model for identifying, nurturing and showcasing talent shown by young people, ensuring they have the tools, information and support they need to explore and develop their creative talents.
• creating a widespread marketing and advocacy campaign with young people to make sure they, their friends and families know about the cultural activities on offer on their doorstep. The final point would have been the focus for year three had the programme continued.

In The Box at FACT

The ambitious programme targeted young people who were disengaged from culture and even from Liverpool city centre. It focused on disadvantaged communities facing real and difficult challenges. It offered young people experiences in a wide range of art forms (music, drama, museums, heritage, visual arts, graffiti, digital media, fashion, literature, public art). It looked at questions of quality, evaluation, the participation of young people in shaping the cultural offer and how things could change to support better delivery. It linked in with early years settings, primary schools, youth service provision, and agencies supporting NEET (not in employment, education or training) and seldom-heard young people. It reached into and embraced communities who had no previous relationship with the cultural organisations on their doorstep. It was far-reaching, wide-ranging and innovative.

The programme was launched in September and in less than two years over 20,000 young people experienced high-quality arts and heritage projects as audience members, participants and producers.

We believe that participation in creative and cultural activities can have a significant impact on young people. It allows them to discover new things, to express themselves, to develop a passion and to make the most of their talents. It also boosts confidence, enhances self-image, increases aspiration, develops problem-solving and thinking skills and contributes to their social and personal development. This is true of all young people, whether they take up a career in the creative industries or not. Whether it is music, art, film, theatre, dance, digital media, exploring libraries, museums or heritage, culture is for every child and young person, whatever their age and whatever their ability.