Making Space for Young People
Three young people on stage smiling at an audience. Photos by Rising Artist Stefanie Jay from Seph Group
What Could Happen If We Made Space for Young People In Our Organisations?
On Thursday 10th February 2022, Rising co-hosted ‘Make Space for Rising’ at Bristol Beacon. The event, that was produced by Rising artists Alexa Ledecky, Jasmine Thompson and Rosa Ter Kuile - with the support Sophia Harari, formed part of the Bristol Beacon’s #MakeSpaceForMusic campaign - introducing the city to Bristol Beacon’s re-brand which was developed in collaboration with Rising Arts Agency. The event itself felt like an opportunity to celebrate the young people in our community that are the heart of Bristol’s creative culture and witness the journey to transformation that Bristol Beacon is at the beginning of.
Bristol’s explosive new branding was developed by Rising artists Greg Keen, Jasmine Thompson and Rising’s Creative Director - Rosa Ter Kuile in 2020/21 and the branding clearly illustrates the potential, power and scope of the work we do with so many organisations; it shows what can happen when organisations step aside, get out of their own way and allow young people to lead. Which we know many organisations find it hard to do - even those who are seen to be doing it.
Make Space for Rising flyer - designed by RTiiiKA
After two years of being on zoom, it was so great to see the Bristol Beacon space transformed by our artists and filled with people who, like us, champion young creatives. With a range of dancers, poets, musicians and visual artists from our community exhibiting their work through the space, we invited the audience and our supporters to share in the joy of live performance and leave their marks in Bristol Beacon’s space. The energy was unreal.
Events and collaborations like these enable us to show how Rising’s community is a testament to the leadership, skill and vision that young people have. We take our partnerships very seriously and we continuously reflect and ask ourselves what value can we add to this partnership? We hope that our partners extend us the same courtesy of an equally rigorous and reflective approach.
Bristol Beacon’s rebrand has given our artists a platform to showcase their creative talent, offer their insight and expertise to the team at Bristol Beacon and claim ownership of a space - if only for one evening. The Make Space For Rising event also created a valuable opportunity for our community to gather, celebrate and demonstrate the power of young creatives - something always we strive to do.
We’re committed to showing what happens when young people are given *real* space in the culture sector - not just as participants or in entry-level roles. If this is something you’re genuinely interested in too, let’s talk - or better yet, support our radical work on the regular by joining the Rising Alliance.