Case study with Helen Thackray
Background to involvement with Encounter
Blaze provides young people with the opportunity to lead creative projects, and from this benefitting from gaining confidence, developing their creativity and learning transferable skills.
Activities cover a varied range of art forms, and Blaze has always been involved with festivals.
Blaze works alongside local communities and partners.
Blaze is a youth led arts organisation, we work across Lancashire and our priority is giving young people the chance to lead creative projects, the benefits of that is for them to develop their confidence, their creativity, and those transferable skills that come from taking responsibility, having to manage a project and taking something through from an idea to it happening.
Our projects are really varied and we try as much to respond to people's interests, things they want to do, all different art forms. We work in lots of different communities and with different partners, so Blaze doesn't have a venue, but is rooted in the community.
Blaze does have a history of having young people getting involved in festivals.
The first Blaze project back in 2012 was a youth led festival in Preston where the whole event was organised by young people. Over the years, Blaze has done a number of festival programmes and I think festivals provide a great opportunity for young people to learn about production of events.
Motivation for involvement
Blaze had delivered the first phase of the production of Access all Areas in 2023.
This had had a significant impact on the young people involved, and they were keen to have the opportunity to take the work forwards. Blaze were approached by Esther, and this generated both the opportunity to move forwards with the work from 2023, and the opportunity for young disabled people to produce part of the Encounter Festival in 2024.
I knew about Encounter Festival, I'd worked with Esther in the past.
We'd done a project the previous year called Access all Areas which was young adults who all identified as disabled and we started by doing some workshops with them, bringing them together and a chance to explore their shared interests.
We took them on some trips, we took them to a museum to see an exhibition about disabled people's rights and the history of campaigning for disability rights. That group decided they wanted to produce an exhibition in Preston which happened last year.
At the end of that we had some amazing feedback from the young people about the impact that project had had on them, and they were eager to do more and take the next step.
It was around that time that Esther then approached me about Encounter Festival and whether there might be an opportunity for Blaze to work with them, and that's when we said it would be really nice if we could build on the work we'd done with Access all Areas and give young disabled people the opportunity to produce part of the festival.
Activity
The idea of the silent disco was initiated by young people themselves who had freedom over the activity they wanted to organise and produce. With their priority being access and inclusion, much discussion had been held around music events, which can generate a range of barriers to inclusion.
Producing an inclusive music event addressed the accessibility and inclusivity focus; championing access. It was an event that would attract different ages and bring different people together to enjoy music, and showcase the capabilities of the young people.
Amazing that a festival of that scale is in Preston, to be part of that was an amazing opportunity.
It was what the young people wanted to do (a silent disco), they had complete freedom, and it was brilliant that Esther really opened it up and let them decide what they wanted to organise, produce.
Before Encounter Festival we took them on a research trip to the Festival of Making in Blackburn, somewhere where there was a similar festival that had different activities and different parts, different age groups, lots of diverse programming. They went along to that to see what festivals looked like and to get some ideas.
For the group, their priority is about access and inclusion, and the group had talked about in the earlier project, music events and often how they can be very challenging or not accessible for disabled people, whether that's venues not being wheelchair accessible, or for people who are neurodiverse, can be overwhelmed by the noise and lighting at music events.
That was something they talked a lot about and the idea of this event grew; that we put on a silent disco that can be a more inclusive and accessible music event. They also thought it was something that would work for different age ranges and could bring lots of different people together to enjoy music as part of the festival.
The development of the young people's production skills was supported by a research trip to Blackburn's Festival of Making, the Encounter Festival Producer attending sessions with the young people to talk about how she goes about producing the event and a session with an Access Consultant.
Young people getting the chance to develop their production skills, event organising skills, project management, all of those things. They got that through Esther coming in and talking to the group.
She did a few sessions about how she goes about producing the festival.
They wanted to champion access in the arts more and so we introduced them to an Access Consultant who did a session for them to explain their career and how they work with organisations to improve their access.
They talk a lot about wanting to champion people's rights, but also to challenge perceptions of disabled young people, they want to show what they are able to do and what they can contribute.
Doing that gives them a real confidence boost and it connects them, as often these young people can feel quite isolated.
What worked well for 2024
The freedom for young people to decide on their own production was significant in the process and activity. Support was provided in the form of communication of the process and its requirements, and in providing what was needed by the performance.
Esther's openness was really beneficial, the fact that she was really open to the young people deciding what they wanted to programme; that was brilliant. They did set out clear deadlines of when things needed to be organised in terms of marketing and things like that. Just really supportive, provided everything we needed, in that they had the right key ready and everything.
They liaised with us about what we needed to deliver. It was a really good process.
What could be improved for 2025
The main challenge which Blaze faces in working with any production is balancing the need for structure from the perspective of the production and the flexibility required in working with the young people. Partner organisations being aware of the difficulty in achieving this balance, along with any potential to allow for flexibility, helps support working towards this balance.
It's the same challenge that we face on all of our projects because of the nature of them and that is obviously when you're producing a huge event like Encounter Festival there has to be a lot of structure and strict deadlines, things have to happen at certain times.
When you're working with a group of young people, all young people can be quite inconsistent at times, particularly with a group of disabled young children who are often, because of health reasons and other factors, may not be able to get to sessions or can't be there at those deadlines, there can be a bit of a challenge in how to bring those together.
You're working as part of this big process which can't be flexible and with a group that really needs a lot of flexibility and being able to navigate that is always a challenge on all of our projects.
Some of those crucial points, there might not have been as many young people in the sessions as we would have liked, then you have to try to keep them up to speed and speak to them outside of the sessions to ensure they know what is happening.
I think it's just awareness, just being as flexible as possible and I do think Esther was good, and we did have that conversation early on, I predicted it as I know it is always the case.
Every organisation we work with, I try and stress it at the start but the earlier we can know key dates and if there is any wiggle room is good to know; but Esther was really good and the Encounter Team were great in working with us.
Blaze contribution
Blaze brought a new and engaging experience to the festival.
The silent disco brought in 143 visitors of all ages, ranging from those who wanted to enjoy the music to those intrigued by how the technology worked. The event generated joy for those who took part in this unique event.
The silent disco achieved its aim in showcasing access and inclusion through its engagement. It also promoted the "same but different" theme.
The performance also promoted a positive side of young people. The young people had taken the time and effort to produce and deliver an event to be enjoyed by everyone which was held next to the bus station, a venue traditionally associated with antisocial behaviour.
Just something that was youth led and what I really loved to see being there on the day was the range of ages that came and took part in the silent disco and just the joy that everyone seemed to be experiencing, it was lovely to see. Everybody coming into the tent and seeing these young people doing this positive thing and creating this thing that everyone else could enjoy.
It's interesting that our marquee was just outside the bus station in Preston which a lot of people talk about the bus station and talk about antisocial behaviour and young people. This is something that is on the rise at the moment around young people and town centres and negative perceptions and experiences; so to see a group of young people outside the bus station; they've organised this event for other people to enjoy it, I think that's what they brought to the festival.
Also introducing people to new experiences, a lot of people who came into the tent said; "I don't know what a silent disco is", and had never experienced one and were quite fascinated. We had some people who came in who were really interested in the technology and how it worked and others who loved the music and just wanted to dance.
There were other activities going on in the tent as well, so we had some artwork on display and the young people had come up with this strapline which was; "Same but Different" and wanted everyone to think about that we might be all different, but at heart we're all human and have the same experiences.
The very simple way they communicated that was a big canvas and asking everyone to put their handprints on, and that again was a good opportunity for people to engage.
Just having these positive interactions with a group of disabled young people.
Encounter contribution
Encounter provided both the practical contribution of developing skills and learning in event production and also the contribution of increasing young people's self-confidence in being part of the activity itself and the opportunity to engage with a wide audience.
Confidence and increasing their sense of value and purpose, young people can be very isolated. You could really see a change in their confidence, it gave them something to build on, a real confidence boost.
To be part of something with that profile just really gives them such a confidence boost, and they learnt so much more about putting on art events in a different setting of that scale and things they need to think about. They learnt about interacting with different ages, engagement and activity.
In terms of Blaze, we get from it what the young people get from it, as an organisation it's all about that. We always focus on the impact on the young people than the final outcome of the project.
Going forwards with Encounter
Blaze and the young people are keen to continue their involvement with Encounter Festival and to be part of the event again in 2025.
The development of longer term relationships allows for the young people's productions to grow and develop.
Encounter Festival is an amazing opportunity in Preston and could benefit young people with an interest in the arts.
Definitely, it would be brilliant (to be involved again with Encounter Festival). I always think longer term partnerships are much better and it gives us that chance to build on it and improve, once we've done it once.
I know the young people are really keen, they'd like to do a lot more around accessibility and inclusion, and for them to learn more about how festivals of that scale are put together and how access is considered and how can it go even further and what else can be done. They'd love the opportunities to get involved in those conversations.
The precise involvement would be fund dependent and the activity dependent upon what the young people would like to work on. It is felt they would like to move forward and try something different; to enjoy the process of developing a new idea.
For us it's always funding dependent, we got grant funding alongside the Encounter Festival and so we would have to source funding for us to be able to work in partnership.
It would depend if we were working with the same young people, I think it would have to be a conversation with them on whether it would be a silent disco again or whether they want to do something else. I've a feeling they would probably want to do something else, to try something else, they enjoy that process of having a new idea and developing that.
Encounter going forwards
There is the potential for Encounter Festival to support young people who are interested in the arts as a career. This could be activity such as providing a traineeship, work experience, talking at colleges and universities or holding day sessions where young people can see the production activity behind the scenes.
The knowledge and experience which Encounter Festival could impart would provide information and practical experience for young people.
From our point of view it's how cultural events provide an opportunity for young people to pursue pathways into the industry, not just disabled young people, it is a very difficult sector for young people to get into, and how to start and build up that experience, particularly for young people from backgrounds who have historically been excluded from the arts or face barriers to getting involved; so I'd love to see a more intensive trainee programme or internship.
Even if it was just for one young adult who could be part of the process from the beginning and learn and develop their experience. It might be a graduate or might be someone at college, who is really interested in this as a career and who would have that opportunity to get that training, get that experience.
I know lots of areas are doing similar programmes and there is a lot of success. Anything Encounter can do, whether it's a whole big traineeship or some one-off events working with colleges and universities, whether it's a talk or a day session where they can come and see behind the scenes and understand as to how production works or get some work experience.
Anything like that could be woven in. Not just with Blaze but other youth partners and education partners in the area.
It's an amazing opportunity in Preston and it would a shame if more young people in Preston couldn't learn from it and use it as a stepping stone.
Community
Whilst being unaware of the range of community involvement which Encounter Festival currently undertakes, early involvement and communication with a range of community groups support community involvement with such events.
I don't know enough about what is done. I know a lot is done that isn't visible, it's hard to say what could be done more, as they've engaged with us as a community group, a partner, and I know the procession they have lots of community groups and things.
I imagine, it's the same with all cultural events, the earlier the better you can engage in dialogue with community groups and start by talking and listening and finding out what might be of interest to them; how they might like to get involved, and whether that can lead to diversifying the programme further or giving community groups the opportunity to co-create elements of it; the way we've done.
It was a really positive experience and I think it's an important event in Lancashire, particularly in the South and East area of Lancashire, I think it's really important that it happens every year and I hope we can work with them again.