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  • GENFest Youth Takeover Festival

    • GENFest Youth Takeover Festival

    ART31's annual Youth Takeover Festival, showcasing artwork and performances from 13-25 year olds in Kent.

    GENFest is a free festival curated by and for 13-25 year olds, celebrating young people’s creativity and giving a platform to young creative voices in Kent.

    The programme showcases up-and-coming local creatives and usually features a mix of live theatre, dance, music and stand-up comedy, plus short film screenings and an art exhibition.

    There is also a whole host of free artist-led workshops as well as networking sessions where young creatives and professionals can connect.

    There are many ways that you could get involved such as;

    • Showcasing your own performance at Gulbenkian Theatre
    • Performing on the Music Stage
    • Making and showcasing your film in our Cinema
    • Submitting Art to our Art Exhibit
    • Taking part in Artist Lead workshops, eg. Graffiti, Songwriting, Linocutting!

    If you would like to get involved with our next festival, attend or bring a group of young people –  contact us on creativeengagement@kent.ac.uk 

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    For more information please email creativeengagement@kent.ac.uk

    You can stay informed by signing up to our ART31 Mailing list: to do this log into your Gulbenkian Website Profile, go to ‘Interests’ and tick ‘yes’ for receiving emails for ‘Creative opportunities for young people from ART31 Kent’.

    Funded by Arts Council England and Kent County Council.

     

    'There was something always on! Very good festival vibes' GENFest Participant
    'A creative space where young people can take part in fun, open workshops, meet people and enjoy themselves every step of the way.' GENFest Participant
    'Please keep on doing this, it will encourage local artists to find their voices' GENFest Participant

    Also from the Gulbenkian

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    ART31 Generate is made up of young people from across Kent aged 13-25. They steer ART31's governance, influence arts policy and practice, and programme the annual GENFest Youth Takeover Festival.
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    NT Connections is the National Theatre’s nationwide youth theatre festival. Each year it offers a unique opportunity for youth theatres and school theatre groups to stage new plays written for young people by some of theatre’s most exciting playwrights, and to perform in leading theatres across the UK.

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    ART31

    ART31 takes its name from Article 31 of the UN Convention on the Rights of a Child, which states that ‘Children have the right to relax and play, and to join in a wide range of cultural, artistic and other recreational activities’.

    ART31 is a vision created with, by, and for young people in Kent, championing the belief that all children and young people have an entitlement to access high quality arts and culture, to empower them to achieve their creative potential, and to genuinely engage young people as equal partners in any decision making that affects them.

    The ART31 Youth Board is made up of young people from across Kent aged 13-25 who steer its governance, and influence policy and practice across the county and beyond, challenging the creative sector to examine existing ways of working and integrate young people into the core of their practice.

    Our projects with young people

    GENFest Young people posing in a cardboard Instagram frame

    ART31 Generate

    ART31 Generate is made up of young people from across Kent aged 13-25. They steer ART31's governance, influence arts policy and practice, and programme the annual GENFest Youth Takeover Festival.

    Youth Theatre

    Fantastic and fun sessions for ages 13-18 years, encouraging creativity and theatre-making skills.

    Live Streaming film equipment.

    SCREEN31

    Screen31 is a group for young people aged 15-25 interested in developing their film-making skills.
    TECH31

    TECH31

    TECH31 provides free practical training in technical theatre for ages 13 - 25
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    National Theatre Connections – Gulbenkian Young Company

    NT Connections is the National Theatre’s nationwide youth theatre festival. Each year it offers a unique opportunity for youth theatres and school theatre groups to stage new plays written for young people by some of theatre’s most exciting playwrights, and to perform in leading theatres across the UK.
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    Gulbenkian Uncovered

    Are you enthusiastic, committed and creative? Gulbenkian Uncovered gives University of Kent students the chance to programme films and run events.

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    Square Pegs Arts

    Square Pegs Arts are an award winning charity who provide drama groups, music projects and other accessible Arts opportunities for children and young adults who have learning disabilities and autism, and produce original, inspiring, challenging Theatre. Difference is celebrated and everyone is supported to shine in their own way.
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    KRAN Fam

    KRAN Fam is a drama group in partnership with Kent Refugee Action Network for young refugees and asylum-seekers.

    Accessible Film Club

    Relaxed Screenings

    Monthly film screenings that are open to all, especially those with autism and learning disabilities.

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    ARTY31

    Gulbenkian’s ARTY31 group is for young people aged 8-12 with a wide variety of arts interests.

    Film tickets

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