Youth Voice Report
Breakdown of Results

Creative and Cultural Interests

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IN THIS SECTION: Looking at which activities young people told us they were interested in.

Young people

We asked young people about which creative and cultural activities they were interested in.

Key findings

  • Music and film were the most popular areas of culture, as well as likely being some of the most accessible.

  • Dance and museums received the least amount of interest, with dance also having the highest number of young people saying that they weren’t interested.

  • Young people told us about lots of activities they were interested in that they didn’t think fitted into the general categories of film, digital art, festivals, dance, museums, literature, libraries, visual art, theatre and music. These included religious celebrations, sports and physical activities.

Which areas of culture are you interested in?

What does this tell us?

Young people tend to prefer activities that are easily accessible and can be enjoyed at home or out and about, particularly music. They aren’t always thinking about activities like this as something cultural, but rather as something that they enjoy.

Young people enjoy a wide range of activities, and many of these are inherently cultural and creative. However, young people aren’t necessarily aware of this, or choose to define those activities in other ways.

  • "I like poetry as sometimes it explains a true life moral whilst trying not to show it."

  • "I like music but I'm not really a cultural person."

  • "I really love my education."

  • "I'm interested in my own culture and background."

  • "The ones that often involve creativity or listening and exploring ideas and art. "

  • "To understand everyone's point of view."

  • "I like doing art it brings me happiness. I don't really have any cultural interests."

  • "I listen to music at all times when possible."

  • "I am interested with art because it is very creative and I can do creative stuff."

  • "I generally enjoy doing things on a computer whether it be games or more production things like digital arts. I also enjoy sports."

  • "I like drawing what I think."

  • "I have no culture really but I like the idea of fun/colourful festivals."

  • "I'm interested in how different communities enjoy themselves and celebrate."

  • "I love to play sport and learn abut the culture and creativity of it."

  • "I enjoy things to do with making physical things."

Adults Part 1: What creative or cultural interests do the young people that you engage with have?

Key findings

  • A range of interests Adults told us that the young people they know have a range of creative and cultural interests; often too many for them to list.

  • Freedom and expression Using culture and creativity to free the imagination and express their thoughts and ideas were key, as was the freedom to learn and experience new things.

  • Being in their everyday Young people don’t necessarily have to, or want to, go outside of their everyday activities to be creative.

  • Using technology Many creative and cultural interests are experienced through the use of technology and online access.

  • Evolving interests Young people’s interests change and evolve over time, with adults recognising the role that they play in this.

What does this tell us?

Adults recognise the large variety of cultural and creative interests that young people have, and will develop as they experience new things. Music and visual art were the most popular forms recognised by the adults who responded to this survey, but the values of freedom, expression and exploration were valued in relation to all creative and cultural pursuits.

  • "All things visual and imaginative."

  • "A lot of our young people are very creatively inspired, and in our sessions - they express their emotions and feelings through creativity."

  • "Cross artform but we aim our activity towards freeing the imagination and using words to capture story of all shapes and kinds."

  • "They like to express themselves through games, drawing, writing, crafts, and also find playing sports or doing activities enjoyable. They often want to do things that are exciting or adventurous. Dance and drama are popular with some."

  • "Drawing, writing, what kids did in the past."

  • "Not very many, they do not tend to engage with anything other than being in their own environment."

  • "Contemporary interests, cultural heritage."

  • "The enjoy being outdoors, they enjoy finding creativity in the mundane, they enjoy participating in workshops."

  • "They like music - although no longer choose to learn an instrument. They explore their creative side through social media applications and the likes."

  • "We try to visit exhibitions and galleries locally and nationally (when affordable). We do arts and crafts at home. My daughter plays violin. We try to attend live music events if affordable."

  • "My child loves to travel and learn about other countries."

  • "For us, it's important to understand that each child is unique, and that their interests can evolve over time."

  • "Movement and dance, drama and theatre, music and singing, performing, art making, attending events and festivals."

  • "As we are a museum service, the cultural interests of the children and young people that engage with us are largely rooted in history and heritage."

  • "In Halifax the young people I have worked with enjoy drawing, painting, performance, video, VR. They enjoy presenting to camera."

Adults Part 2: What creative or cultural interests do you promote or encourage for young people?

Key findings

  • Imaginative activities Providing opportunities for young people to exercise their imagination freely was valued highly.

  • Developing wellbeing and emotional ‘soft skills’ Wellbeing and mindfulness were key values, with a recognition of how these are key skills for young people to develop.

  • Learning new things Many parents told us that they take their children to local events and travel whenever possible to help them learn new things and have new experiences.

What creative or cultural interests do you promote or encourage for young people?

What does this tell us?

Adults are passionate about encouraging and supporting young people to access as many creative and cultural opportunities as possible, though they sometimes experience boundaries to this. Adults were more focused on developing skills such as imagination and play than in specific creative activities.

  • "I try to promote and encourage them all by finding groups, courses or volunteer work where they can explore these areas of interest and build skills in this area."

  • "We will attend events in Halifax or Bradford if aware e.g. Eid celebrations, carnivals, festival of light etc."

  • "Travel and understanding history."

  • "Creative writing, writing for fun, for self confidence, self expression. Privileging the imagination, making space for everyone's story."

  • "Whatever they're interested in, adding in opportunities as they arise e.g. I took one child to a spoken word poetry performance, and another to a watercolour class."

  • "I encourage my child to partake in anything where he can celebrate his individuality and express emotion."

  • "Thinking creatively, painting, drawing, cultural diversity and education."

  • "A diversity of interests inclusive and accessible to all."

  • "Anything creative that encourages mindfulness."

  • "Socially engaged projects that work with Young People to reimagine their place and lives, and identify steps to make their ambitions a reality."

  • "Any support groups which will improve a young persons future, confidence, self esteem. We encourage attendance at community groups, youth groups etc."

  • "Learning how the history of Halifax and Calderdale has created the place we know today."

  • "Creative approaches to expression to help them process emotions, experiences, and develop their 'soft skills'. For example, dance or drama activities, arts and crafts, and free time to enjoy conversation and find out about each other."

  • "Decorating houses on festivals and making them learn our culture in a creative way."

  • "We are happy to be led by our children's interests but have encouraged participation in social/group activities and also pushed them to learn a musical instrument."