The Art Newspaper

Cleaning up London's future

It’s up to organisations, public and private, corporate and cultural, to provide creative opportunities for young people

By Marcus Davey. Web only
Published online: 25 August 2011

Londoners turn out in force to clean up in Clapham Junction. Photo by Twitter user Andy B (@Lawcol888)

This August, gangs of looters and arsonists ran riot in several areas of London and in cities across the UK. The British pages of international newspapers were an advertisement for hooliganism and large-scale incompetence. To me, what is most disappointing—and worrying in the long term—is the fact that much of the damage was carried out by young people. People with talents to develop, and futures to fulfill.

The Roundhouse in Camden, a performing arts venue in north London, was spared an attack, but some of our neighbours were not so fortunate. The opening of Ron Arad’s extraordinary installation went ahead in spite of unrest in the street outside. On the first morning, visitors made their way there past broken glass and empty shops. An impressive clean-up operation since then proved that it was the local community that acted fastest and with the most dedication.

The troubles have made me more determined than ever in my belief that arts organisations must take the lead in preserving the talents and futures of their young catchment. Arts organisations, by virtue of daily engagement with the public, have the opportunity to become the centre of communities. A place for people to socialise, collaborate, be inspired, and take part in experiences that have a bearing on their lives and way of seeing things.

It is a responsibility of arts organisations everywhere to inspire young people who have been marginalised and excluded to learn skills and build confidence that will allow them to find ways back into education and employment.

Every year, the Roundhouse Studios work with over 3,000 people aged 11-25 on projects in the performing arts, media and music production to a professional level. By putting young people at the heart of everything— programming, workshops, even inviting them to sit on the board of trustees —organisations can encourage a culture of trust and respect between groups living in the same city.

Without the contribution of rising talent, whatever the financial circumstances, arts organisations risk becoming detached and ultimately lacking in significance to their audiences.

It would be unwise to depend wholeheartedly on support from central governments. With ever-shifting policies and cuts to many areas of arts education, it is up to arts organisations to work creatively with depleted resources. Real creativity is, after all, about doing more with less.

Collaborating with voluntary organisations, and inviting well known ambassadors to commit time and cultural expertise, are ways to meet the shortfall in central government funding. The Roundhouse regularly invites well known industry figures, such as director Terry Gilliam and musician Nick Mason, to coach and mentor talented young performers. Through our partnership with Bloomberg, we were able to offer a pay-what-you-can entry to Arad's summer installation, ensuring that nobody was put off by ticket prices.

Roundhouse Radio, run entirely by 11-25s, decided to produce a special report on the riots. The exercise required them to investigate closely the dissatisfaction of their peers, and offer an under-exposed voice in response to events—that of young people themselves.

Young people are expected to challenge society. Their energy and imagination can be incredibly powerful in transforming it. The events of August showed us how dangerous it can be when individual imagination is replaced by an inane herd instinct, and energy diverts away from creative projects and towards destruction.

Arts organisations can offer the sort of education that reflects on the local society, and therefore encourage people to invest something of themselves in a culturally aspirational community.

We must remember that the vast majority of young people are desperately trying to find a better future in any way they can. But rises in youth unemployment and university tuition fees in Britain leave many children demotivated, and feeling left out of the loop by decision makers.

It’s up to organisations, public and private, corporate and cultural, to provide creative opportunities for young people. Practical education programmes and voluntary work experience build confidence and skills, an investment in which both individual and organisation have a valuable stake.

Although I feel very down-hearted by the actions of August, I remind myself of conversations I have every week with ambitious, thoughtful young people who often have the very least in our society. I am constantly impressed by people I meet who are struggling to make use of their talents and find their way in life, against a background that would make most of us shudder.

Marcus Davey is artistic director and chief executive of the Roundhouse