Former Cornerhouse BFI Film Academy student Lucy Grayson outlines what HOME will do for Manchester’s emerging creative community.
When HOME opens its doors this spring, it will become a creative hub for Manchester – and, with more and more young people wanting to get involved in the arts, it makes sense that it will also be home to a new Young Creatives programme. Designed to inspire young people aged 15-25, it will enable them to find out about different art forms, develop new skills and to have a voice in the programming of HOME.
Cornerhouse and the Library Theatre Company have played host to many courses aimed at young people. I took part in the Cornerhouse BFI Film Academy programme – I found the experience enlightening, and a chance to advance my filmmaking skills. Experience as in-depth as this is hard to come by, and it’s a great way of engaging young people. Liza Vul, another Film Academy participant, feels the same. “There were things you couldn’t teach yourself and I finished the course with the knowledge that I had a head start on pursuing my career in film,” she tells me.
Courses such as these help get young people into the arts. They provide skills support; they also help open doors. “With all the pressures of daily life, it’s easy to lose that creativity,” says Vul. “The BFI Film Academy helped me maintain my artistic side and keep touch with what I love to do.” It’s an experience no college or school could ever offer, as the professionals involved make it as realistic as possible.
HOME will, of course, follow in the footsteps of Cornerhouse and the Library Theatre Company, as well as the other organisations in the city that support young people. Pearl Fleming was, for example, part of the Library Theatre’s Young Company. “These courses create opportunities to get involved in the arts, and taking part confirmed my desire to work in the arts,” she says.
It’s easy to see, then, how experiences such as these motivate young people. They champion individuals but they also connect young people. I’ll be interested to see how HOME develops, but its Young Creatives programme is an exciting prospect and will, I am sure, help Manchester continue to lead the way when it comes to innovative practice outside formal education.