Resources: Study on "Impact of Youth Arts on Society"

Through its year-long campaign, Artswork* has amassed a body of evidence which demonstrates how youth arts can transform young people's lives and enable new generations to progress positively as young citizens influencing the society we live in.   Its report “Youth Arts Transforms Lives: Fact!” delivers a very clear message: Youth Arts are the most important and powerful tool available to help young people transform themselves and the world around them. 

We draw your attention specifically to the “Interesting Statistics” (pg 10):

- “...there is very clear – very compelling evidence that people who engage in positive activities as children are significantly more likely than those who don’t – 50% more likely in fact – to have good qualifications in later life...” Beverley Hughes, Minister of State for Children, Young People and Families, April 2009.

- Looking across all arts activities, the difference between those aged 11-15 and those aged 16-24 is particularly striking. In 2009/10, 99.1% of 11-15 year olds had engaged with the arts compared with 80.3% of 16-24 year olds. It is likely that the largest determinant of this drop is leaving school. Taking Part Survey 2009/10

- When choosing from a long list of jobs, 7% of young people in the UK said they would like to be an actor or actress. When choosing who they admire the most from a list of Mark Zuckerberg, Bob Geldof, James Watson, Barack Obama, Usain Bolt and J.K. Rowling, J.K Rowling came top in the UK at 25%. Young People's Attitudes to Ambition Report, Ambition AXA Awards Scheme, March 2011, in which 2,500 11 to 18-year-olds were surveyed in the UK, France, Germany, Spain and Italy

Amongst the many advantages put forward by organisers and participants, Youth Arts are credited with the ability to:

- Unlock a young person's potential and provide routes to self-discovery and personal fulfilment;

- Encourage creative thinking and problem solving;

- Help reduce the numbers of young people leaving school with poor levels of literacy, numeracy and communication skills;

- Increase motivation, self-esteem and confidence;

- Be a diversion from negative or criminal activity;

- Develop positive group dynamics, including negotiation and joint decision making;

- Improve social skills, citizenship skills and emotional literacy;

- Develop self-discipline and a greater ability for young people to take responsibility for their own actions;

- Encourage young people to speak out/express themselves and develop transferable skills for life and employment;

- Develop a willingness in young people to take an active role in their community;

- Develop economic and cultural vitality in our communities; and

- Empower young people to shape the future creative and cultural landscape.

In addition to a series of case studies and evidence from young people, the report contains endorsing statements and articles from leading national and international arts, creative and cultural figures on ways in which engagement in the arts and culture results in real and definable outcomes for young people.  The report also has an excellent Resources section at the end, with listing of UK organisations involved in Youth Arts as well as other studies, surveys and reports.

You can access the report at: http://artswork.org.uk/domains/artswork.org.uk/local/artswork-flipbook/index.html or http://artswork.org.uk/domains/artswork.org.uk/local/artswork-flipbook/files/youth%20arts%20transforms%20livesv7.pdf

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* Artswork is a national youth arts development agency in the UK whose mission is “to place the arts at the heart of work with, for and by children and young people - particularly those deemed to be at risk.  It also champions, leads and facilitates high quality work led by artists and arts organisations including the development of young arts and creative practitioners and leaders.