11 / 16
11
Theatres support the development
of children and young people of all
ages. They welcome toddlers and
younger children for an amazing
range of creative events and
activities, providing educational
stimulus at a vital age. They
help children make sense of the
world, challenge some of their
preconceptions and raise their
hopes and aspirations.
In teenage years they offer some
truly positive activities to express
themselves in ways communities
genuinely applaud rather than
object to.
A major DCMS study of evidence
of impacts of young people’s
participation in the arts concluded
that learning through arts and
culture improves attainment across
many other aspects of the school
curriculum and has a wealth of other
beneficial impacts on young people.
Academic research from the US
showed that students from low
income families who engage in the
arts at school are twice as likely to
volunteer and are 20% more likely
to vote as young adults. Taking part
in drama and library activities also
improves attainment in literacy.
THEATRE
EDUCATION
AND
The good people at Contact have supported me from a youth
right through my development as a professional artist. Before
being involved in projects at Contact, I never saw how my MCing
skills could be used on stage - well, now I’ve toured the country
several times with plays I’ve written and performed in!
Martin Visceral, local theatre: Contact, Manchester