The celebration of young people’s creativity is back with a new programme of installations, exhibitions and events across the city
The Future is Ours Festival returns to Manchester once again this summer, bringing with it a city-wide arts programme championing young people’s voices and experiences. Created by young people’s mental health charity 42nd Street, the festival will showcase a programme of installations, exhibitions and events across the city.
42nd Street is an innovative young people’s mental health charity based in Greater Manchester. With over 50 years’ experience, it provides free, confidential support to 11-25 year olds experiencing emotional and mental health difficulties, using creative, rights-based and young person-centred approaches.
The welcoming space has been co-designed with young people in mind to feel safe, comfortable and inspired. Support is offered by qualified practitioners offering a choice of one-to-one counselling, therapy and psychosocial sessions, in person and online and a range of group work including peer support, social action, arts and creativity.
The Future is Ours festival empowers young people and transforms Manchester’s public and cultural spaces into platforms for expression and connection. It makes a compelling case for creative mental health support as an essential approach that has lasting impact, whilst also inviting audiences to hear, understand and celebrate the perspectives of young people today, expressed through their art.
This year’s festival highlights include:
- Creativity Can - a collaborative exhibition by Manchester based Artist, Chloe Watts and Horsfall young people (present - until 7th June, HOME Manchester)
- Creative Health is Mental Health - Young Artists’ gallery boxes exhibition at The Lowry (8th June - 30th August)
- A Home of Ideas - a window installation at Fred Aldous (21st May -19th June)
- 10 Years of the The Horsfall Exhibition - celebrating a decade of creativity (27th May - 19th June, The Horsfall)
- What Connects Us - a series of street posters across Manchester City Centre (29th May - 19th June)
- The Future is Ours National Symposium - bringing together voices from across the sector (11th June, The Lowry and Online 12:30 - 14:30) - tickets available here, option to pay what you feel as a donation
The Horsfall is the venue at the heart of the festival, providing a dedicated, young person-led creative space where individuals can explore art as a way to support their mental health and boost their confidence.
Rod Kippen, Clinical Lead for Creativity and Social Action, said: “The Future Is Ours festival is a space that celebrates young people – for their creativity, voice and action. Young people need spaces to share who they are and what they want to see in the future. The festival celebrates taking young people seriously, supporting them to create work that matters to them. Mental health challenges often leave people feeling disconnected from their sense-of-self and agency, and creativity is a great tool to re-connect with yourself, to have agency, to effect change and find connection with others."
Hafsa H, Artist in residence at The Horsfall, said: “The Horsfall is the biggest turning point in my life so far. It represents someone taking a chance on me.”
Mark Aldous, Managing Director at Fred Aldous, said: “What The Horsfall does for young people in Manchester matters. We’ve been part of the same creative community for nearly 140 years, so giving over our window to young artists from 42nd street each year feels like the least we can do. We’re proud to be involved and we’ll keep doing it for as long as they’ll have us.”
We see every day how creative expression can support mental health, build confidence and create a sense of belonging. This festival is a celebration of that work, but it’s also a call to recognise the importance of accessible, relevant opportunities for young people across the region and beyond.”
Supporters and sponsors of the festival include: Nell’s Pizza, Scoop Brand Communications, The Lowry, HOME, Applique Apparel Ltd, Fred Aldous, Steep Soda Co and Manchester Central Library.
The festival runs throughout May and June at various locations across Manchester.
For the full event details and listings, and information on how you can support the charity, click here.
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