Youth Voice Report
Breakdown of Results

Valuing Creativity and Culture

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IN THIS SECTION: Thinking about why creativity and culture matter

Young people

We asked young people what they thought creative activities did for them, with attention to the different aspects of wellbeing. We also asked them what they thought the point of creativity and culture was.

Key findings

  • Many young people thought creativity and culture were valuable, especially for developing their own identity and expressing themselves.

  • Young people were particularly aware of the importance of taking part in creative and cultural activities as an enjoyable experience.

  • Few young people felt that creative and cultural activities helped them to feel optimistic and excited about their futures.

  • Communication skills, such as sharing things with others and feeling confident, scored low.

  • Few young people felt that creative and cultural activities helped them to develop their comprehension skills, whether that was for designing their ideas or developing their critical thinking skills.

What do you think is the point of creativity and culture?

Taking part in creative and cultural activities helps you to…

What does this tell us?

Young people tend to value culture and creativity for the impact that it has on their emotional and mental wellbeing. More work needs to be done, however, to highlight the ways that these activities can help them to develop other concrete and transferable skills.

  • "It makes you who you are. It makes things in life exciting and fun."

  • "A way of expressing yourself and bringing people together."

  • "To enjoy life."

  • "Being able to be free and able to be ourselves."

  • "It helps you to feel relaxed, not as stressed and you can communicate with it."

  • "To inspire and uplift people and to allow people to express their ideas and values."

  • "To learn more about life and what you can do with it."

  • "To represent people and how they feel, act and what their background is."

  • "To achieve goals you would never think you would accomplish."

  • "It makes change."

  • "It helps us to grow as a society and inspires youth with creative interests."

  • "To explore and find out."

  • "There doesn't really have to be a point to it. Doing stuff makes you feel good."

  • "Creativity = allows developing thinking skills. Culture = being proud to be who you are."

  • "I think it is a way to express who you are and what you want to be in a fun and exciting way. It helps people boost in their learning and it also creates many new opportunities and career paths for the younger generations."

Adults

We asked adults what they understood to be the value of culture and creativity for the young people that they engage with.

Key findings

  • Development of skills and understanding The value of creativity for developing a wide range of skills and knowledge were key to adults.

  • Creativity and culture as outside of academic studies Most adults understood creativity and culture as functioning primarily outside of academic studies, with differing opinions about whether academic work or creative activities were more important.

  • Enriching experiences Culture and creativity were viewed as key to providing enriching experiences, though not all young people were viewed as being aware of or able to access these.

What do you understand to be the value of creativity and culture for the children and young people you engage with?

What does this tell us?

Adults want to support young people to experience the benefits of creativity and culture as essential parts of life and wellbeing, but this is sometimes in conflict with external factors.

  • "Improving confidence and self worth, gaining experience, meeting mentors and positive role models, gaining skills, increasing employability, exploring different career opportunities."

  • "I work in a school and have watched as year on year, the education system becomes a conveyor belt of Maths and English mainly. Teachers are so stressed and pressured to produce results in these, that unfortunately, unless they have a special interest in something, all the creative things (even experiments in creative writing) fall by the wayside. No-one has time, everyone is exhausted."

  • "In short, the value of culture for the children and young people who engage with us is educational (as they learn more about their identity and the history of the area they are in) and enriching (as they are spending their time enjoying an experience whether as part of an educational visit or a pastime in their free time)."

  • "Being creative allows us to explore our world and our feelings. Creativity enables children and young people to develop problem solving and many other valuable skills. Learning and play are inherently linked, and creativity triggers children's imaginations."

  • "Creating a pride in their home town."

  • "For our young people in particular, creativity offers respite from the demands of their home environments. The creativity we offer allow young people and children to express their thoughts and feelings in ways they may not have the opportunity to in other environments."

  • "Extremely important - children will be the rulers of the planet in the future, and so we must equip them with care for different cultures and skills in being creative to deal with the many obstacles they will face in the future."

  • "Important but less so than academic study."

  • "It enriches their experience of life, introducing ideas, cultures, information about other places, faiths and values."

  • "To allow them to escape the difficulties of teenage years and have something to exist for."

  • "Creativity and culture are essential elements of the wellbeing of all humans, and this includes children and young people. They are often more inclined to play and explore too, so creativity and culture help to nurture this. There is huge value holistically, including mental health support, building healthy relationships, understanding themselves more, learning key skills, and benefiting from places to play, explore, and be themselves."

  • "Enormous, our students do not even pop to Leeds. So I do not feel they are very culturally and creativity aware of all the opportunities to them locally."

  • "I believe creativity and cultural experiences to be as valuable as traditional education. They teach you about people and life and yourself, and help you to enjoy your life."

  • "It's part of our identity and how we see ourselves in the world and how we understand others - it's important to understand that we have more in common than that which divides us."

  • "Teaches independent thought, learning to understand differences in people and methods of communication, alongside mindfulness and social skills."