About Promote YT
Who we are…
Promote YT (Scotland) is a national network membership organisation for youth theatres and other organisations developing performing arts by young people which aims to support the development of youth theatre by:
Facilitating networking
Providing skills development / training opportunities
Providing a national platform for youth theatre
Acting as an advocate for youth theatre
The History of Promote YT
In July 2001, Scottish Arts Council Drama Department commissioned a Review of Youth Theatre (Bonnar Keenlyside, pub. July 2003).
The Review identified over 300 youth theatres in existence in Scotland, around 8,000 young people taking part in youth theatre every week and a strong demand for an organisation which would provide a national network and resource, respond to issues / gaps in provision and facilitate development.
In response to these findings an informal group of youth theatre practitioners (from the Scottish Borders to Shetland) submitted a successful proposal to the Scottish Arts Council Drama Department to run a seminar where youth theatre participants and practitioners could meet, exchange practice and decide on the role and nature of an umbrella organisation for youth theatre in Scotland.
The findings of consultations with young people and youth theatre practitioners carried out at the Inaugural Youth Theatre Seminar on November 2003 in Aberdeen formed the basis of Promote YT’s constitution and it’s Business Plan.
Promote YT (Scotland) was incorporated 29 June 2004 and a Scottish Arts Council award provided pilot funding to Promote YT to deliver the first year of activity in August 2004.
On the 21st and 22nd January 2005 Promote YT hosted its first annual national networking and skills development event entitled ‘Exchange’. The two day event was hosted by the Pitlochry Festival Theatre and was attended by over 60 youth theatre / youth arts related practitioners and the associated workshops and training talks were facilitated by respected artists and organisations. The ‘Exchange’ event also facilitated a youth theatre consultation process which formed the basis of Promote YT’s key objectives and policies.
The maiden Promote YT National Festival of Youth Theatre took place from the 14th to the 17th July 2005 and was attended by well over 100 young people and practitioners from all over Scotland and beyond. The event was held in partnership with Clackmannanshire council and was staged at the macrobert Arts Centre, Stirling with associated events being held in and around Clackmannanshire. At the core of the festival was the performances, and the three day programme of productions encapsulated a dynamic range of ages, styles, talents and nationalities.
With the continued support of the Scottish Arts Council the organisation was restructured and in October 2005 a Director was appointed to lead the organisation closely followed by the appointment of a Development Officer in January 2006.
The Promote YT website went live on January 2006 and SKILL-UP 2006 marks the beginning of a three year strategy to support and encourage the development of youth theatre in Scotland in line with the demands of the sector.
Promote YT will shortly be undertaking a full re-mapping of the Youth Theatre sector in Scotland.
Through PROmotion – the forum, e-bulletins, and e-zine Promote YT can support and expand the network currently working in Scotland.
Promote YT are proud to produce and host the annual National Festival of Youth Theatre . Building on the success of 2005 / 2006, the wheels are in motion planning what is shaping up to be a fantastic event in 2007.
The Future’s bright…
Plans are under way for a project to enable young people to have direct input into Promote YT, through ‘WISE UP’ a youth board will be formed, a youth web presence created, and a networking and skills event hosted specifically for young people.
Promote YT (Scotland) is a national network membership organisation for youth theatres and other organisations developing performing arts by young people which aims to support the development of youth theatre by:
Facilitating networking
Providing skills development / training opportunities
Providing a national platform for youth theatre
Acting as an advocate for youth theatre
The History of Promote YT
In July 2001, Scottish Arts Council Drama Department commissioned a Review of Youth Theatre (Bonnar Keenlyside, pub. July 2003).
The Review identified over 300 youth theatres in existence in Scotland, around 8,000 young people taking part in youth theatre every week and a strong demand for an organisation which would provide a national network and resource, respond to issues / gaps in provision and facilitate development.
In response to these findings an informal group of youth theatre practitioners (from the Scottish Borders to Shetland) submitted a successful proposal to the Scottish Arts Council Drama Department to run a seminar where youth theatre participants and practitioners could meet, exchange practice and decide on the role and nature of an umbrella organisation for youth theatre in Scotland.
The findings of consultations with young people and youth theatre practitioners carried out at the Inaugural Youth Theatre Seminar on November 2003 in Aberdeen formed the basis of Promote YT’s constitution and it’s Business Plan.
Promote YT (Scotland) was incorporated 29 June 2004 and a Scottish Arts Council award provided pilot funding to Promote YT to deliver the first year of activity in August 2004.
On the 21st and 22nd January 2005 Promote YT hosted its first annual national networking and skills development event entitled ‘Exchange’. The two day event was hosted by the Pitlochry Festival Theatre and was attended by over 60 youth theatre / youth arts related practitioners and the associated workshops and training talks were facilitated by respected artists and organisations. The ‘Exchange’ event also facilitated a youth theatre consultation process which formed the basis of Promote YT’s key objectives and policies.
The maiden Promote YT National Festival of Youth Theatre took place from the 14th to the 17th July 2005 and was attended by well over 100 young people and practitioners from all over Scotland and beyond. The event was held in partnership with Clackmannanshire council and was staged at the macrobert Arts Centre, Stirling with associated events being held in and around Clackmannanshire. At the core of the festival was the performances, and the three day programme of productions encapsulated a dynamic range of ages, styles, talents and nationalities.
With the continued support of the Scottish Arts Council the organisation was restructured and in October 2005 a Director was appointed to lead the organisation closely followed by the appointment of a Development Officer in January 2006.
The Promote YT website went live on January 2006 and SKILL-UP 2006 marks the beginning of a three year strategy to support and encourage the development of youth theatre in Scotland in line with the demands of the sector.
Promote YT will shortly be undertaking a full re-mapping of the Youth Theatre sector in Scotland.
Through PROmotion – the forum, e-bulletins, and e-zine Promote YT can support and expand the network currently working in Scotland.
Promote YT are proud to produce and host the annual National Festival of Youth Theatre . Building on the success of 2005 / 2006, the wheels are in motion planning what is shaping up to be a fantastic event in 2007.
The Future’s bright…
Plans are under way for a project to enable young people to have direct input into Promote YT, through ‘WISE UP’ a youth board will be formed, a youth web presence created, and a networking and skills event hosted specifically for young people.
Watch this space…
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