Young people call for a more creative Britain

Young people present their Manifesto for a Creative Britain.

The conference comprised of 11 - 19 year olds from across England who voted on two extra manifesto points. The event was the culmination of an eighteen-month consultation with young people up and down the country. Andy Burnham pledged to respond to the manifesto and make sure it was discussed with cabinet colleague Ed Balls, Education Secretary.

Tate, in collaboration with Creative Partnerships, has been finding out what young people feel they need in order to learn, think and act creatively. How could schools be different? What could their teachers and other people working in the creative industries do to help? How could they develop the best environment in which to make creative decisions and form ideas? How do organisations respond to their needs?

More than 200 pupils from 12 schools from across the country (Forest of Dean, Tendering, Kent, Birmingham, Merseyside, Cornwall, Barnsley, Leicester, Bristol, London and Northampton) took part using online discussion, face to face conversations, group debate and video interviews to canvas the views of their peers. As a result, at the conference ten school groups made presentations, each outlining one manifesto point. Following further debate, the participants proposed and voted for an 11th & 12th points.

More than 3,000 young people have taken part in total including those participating in discussions on the dedicated Tate website, designed and supported by BT, and 2,300 respondents to a MORI poll.

Media Coverage

The Times: School children's manifesto for a more creative Britain
Evening Standard: Pupils call for more freedom 'to be creative'
Telegraph: More than half of children have never been to art gallery
British Satellite News: UK School children consider creativity