Promote YT, the national development agency for youth theatre in Scotland, hosted its first sector Symposium at Scottish Youth Theatre in Glasgow in November 2011.

This new event attended by around 80 of our members, youth theatres and freelance practitioners from across Scotland and beyond enabled Symposium delegates the opportunity to discuss and inform Promote YT’s development in light of the publication of our 4-year report which was launched at the Symposium.

The Sector Symposium also offered Scotland’s youth theatre sector, the chance to come together and share ideas, network and discuss future challenges alongside industry colleagues including representation from David McDonald  Creative Scotland’s National Youth Arts Strategy team leader.

The event also hosted a keynote speech from Jill Adamson, Chief Executive of the National Association of Youth Theatres (NAYT). Jill gave an enlightening presentation on the changes and challenges youth theatres are facing south of the border.

In addition to formal presentations there were also workshop/discussion groups and a unique chance for Youth theatres to ‘SHOUT OUT’.  The Symposium also offered 20 representatives from Scottish youth theatres a platform to stand up and shout about their work and share what they’ve been up to over the last year.  It presented them with a unique opportunity to share their successes, plans, ambitions and any future ideas they had for partnership working in front of the whole sector and any potential partners.

Delegates included organisations as diverse as The National Youth Theatre, Scottish Youth Theatre, Youth Music Theatre UK, Deaf Youth Theatre as well as representative from youth theatres and youth organizations’ from every Scottish region.

The symposium has become an annual event and will return in November 2012