£175,000 grant windfall for Contact

Published: 7 July 2012
Reporter: David Upton

BAC Homegrown. Photo credit: James AllenManchester's Contact theatre, one of the country's leading arts organisations for young people, has successfully secured a major Gulbenkian performance grant worth £175,000 in partnership with Battersea Arts Centre, People's Palace Projects and a youth agency network in Rio de Janerio.

The grant will create a UK cultural festival of young people's ideas. Drawing inspiration from the Rio network, the project will involve 300 young people aged 15 to 25 and the creation of six urban hubs across the UK. This will culminate in a four-day cultural festival of young people's idea over the 2015 Easter Weekend.

The foundation has also supported two projects developed by Manchester International Festival: Sacred Sites and That Day We Sang.

As a European foundation based in three countries, Gulbenkian is keen to encourage greater international exchange.

Its director Andrew Barnett, said: "It has been a challenge to select one project from the best of those involved in participatory performance. We were attracted by the fact that this project arises from an international partnership which will offer young people opportunities to take the lead in giving voice to their aspirations.

"Our hope is that this exchange of ideas will embolden practitioners to develop new ways of working that will both enrich theatre practice and enhance the lives of the young participants."

Suzie Henderson, Creative Producer at Contact added: "We are thrilled to receive this grant which will allow us to develop a new creative model for young people that can be rolled out nationally. We are delighted to be developing this work in partnership."

Details: www.contactmcr.com

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