HOME are excited to announce that Young Identity are to become the arts venue’s Resident Artists.
Young Identity have a long history of delivering dynamic poetry and spoken word workshops for young people at HOME, Contact and at events across Manchester.
The group meet every Monday at HOME where their workshops are open to all young people aged between 15 and 25.
Poets write in response to the artistic programme at HOME and their work has been showcased through specially commissioned events such as My Country Curtain Raiser, If You’re Gonna Do it Do it Right and The Scar opening performance. Participants also have the opportunity to perform in high profiled poetry talent searches such as the Words First Showcase, hosted by the BBC’s Reece Parkinson and Reece Williams, and featuring poets and spoken word artists from across the UK.
As Resident Artists, the group will create more work created in response to HOME’s programme of film, theatre and visual art.
Shirley May, Director of Young Identity, said: “We are delighted that we have been appointed Resident Artists at HOME, it has been a pleasure responding to the artwork programs at the venue. Young Identity participants have benefited from being a part of the ecology of HOME’s programming and we are excited about the work we will produce together in partnership.”
Dave Moutrey, Artistic Director and CEO of Home, said: “Young Identity’s vital and inspirational work is a great fit for HOME, we love working with them, learning from them, supporting their development as artists but most importantly seeing how much our audiences enjoy and take from their poetry. We are very excited to be working with them in the new phase in our relationship.”
Marisa Draper, Head of Engagement at HOME, said: “Over the past four years, HOME has had the pleasure of working with the extraordinarily talented Young Identity team of poets and spoken word artists, who have created work that amazes, inspires, informs and that interrogates the world-wide issues facing us today.
“Young Identity are an important part of the HOME family and of the city. We are proud to support them as HOME Resident Artists and look forward to working with them in this new capacity.”
Young Identity have worked with some of the most exciting poets and spoken word artists in the world, including Lemn Sissay, Saul Williams, Linton Kwesi Johnson and Kae Tempest.
They have performed across the UK and internationally from The Schaubuhne in Berlin to Frankfurt International School Youth Poetry Slam in Germany, and the Nuyorican Poetry Café, New York.