Creative Producer Peta Rainford on Isle of Wight Changemakers Programme

We spoke with Placemaking Creative Producer Peta to find out more about Young Cultural Changemakers on the Isle of Wight…

How is the programme going so far? 

“So far we have run six cultural consultations on the Isle of Wight – in schools, with organised youth groups, and at public events – and engaged with more than 220 young people.

Each consultation workshop so far has used a different creative approach to explore themes around youth empowerment, community and creativity – T-shirt design (Ventnor Fringe), badge making (IW Pride), performance poetry (Barton Primary School), cartoon drawing (Isle of Wight Learning Centre), collage (Isle of Wight NHS Trust’s Youth Forum) and rap (Sandown & Lake Youth Forum).

There will be six more sessions between now and the end of March and the plan is to get creative/hear the views of 500 young people in total – keep your eyes open for the public sessions to get involved!

Two of the creative consultations we’ve done so far will be developed into significant place-based commissions: based on the young people’s priorities, call-outs to artists have been issued and the young people themselves will decide which artist they work with at Dragons Den events in early December. The work will then be co-produced with the young people from January-March 2024 

Island Learning Centre (submissions now closed) – an artwork that fosters inter-generational relationships and respect.

Isle of Wight NHS Trust’s Youth Forum (submissions due by midday Monday 27th November) – an age-appropriate garden for young people visiting or staying on the children’s ward to relax and have fun in, supporting good mental wellbeing.”

What are some common themes of conversations you’re having with young people in your consultations? 

“There are concerns around safety; particularly the lack of safe spaces for under-18s to go at night. There are also concerns around lack of things for young people to do. Young people generally don’t feel they are listened to. And most young people like the place they live.”

Can you share something you’ve really enjoyed working on so far? 

“I’ve enjoyed all the creative consultations we’ve done so far – they’ve all been so different! As a middle-aged woman, getting to write and perform my own rap was a bit of an unexpected treat! What I’ve actually enjoyed most though, is seeing a creative activity make a positive difference to someone’s day – for example, the young people who don’t usually engage with lessons, engaging, and the positive feedback: ‘you were really inspiring’ and ‘can you come back tomorrow?’!”

Thanks Peta! The Young Cultural Changemakers programme is running in 4 other areas in the UK: Slough, The New Forest, Arun, and Dover. You can find out more about our work in all these areas here: Activating Young Cultural Changemakers | Artswork – Southampton