Tuning into Change

A Youth Manifesto for the Arts

42 young creatives from London, Los Angeles, Gateshead, Scotland and Bristol have created Tuning Into Change:
A Youth Manifesto for the Arts

A Barbican Guildhall Creative Learning project, the Manifesto was launched on the 4 May at an open rehearsal in the Barbican Hall featuring world-renowned conductor Gustavo Dudamel, members of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain and the Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles, as part of the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s 2018 Barbican residency.

The Tuning into Change project brought young creatives together at workshops over a period of six months to determine what the arts can offer young people and the role that young artists can play to create lasting change in our uncertain world. The young people's fourteen point Manifesto and accompanying 89 page publication explores how young people can effect change at different levels, from the individual to the global across society through the arts.

Hear from Emilian on her experience…

When the Barbican tweeted about an opportunity to discuss current socio-political issues concerning the arts I immediately clicked to find out. The mention of arts, young people and LA immediately grabbed my attention and I hurriedly typed out an application.

'I discovered a group of fellow incredibly different and creative young people'


Once I’d navigated the maze to get into the Barbican Centre I was taken into a large grey room with a bunch of equally nervous looking young people. My nerves soon disappeared once we introduced ourselves to each other and I discovered a group of fellow incredibly different and creative young people.

Photography: Camilla Greenwell

Photography: Camilla Greenwell

After some quick introductions, our endlessly energetic facilitators, Luke and Tamika started the seemingly impossible process of creating an inclusive international Youth Manifesto. The process started off with an insightful look into our own hopes and fears concerning our crafts our futures in the creative industries. Over the odd weekends, we began the transformation of our hopes and fears into tangible aims and most importantly solutions.

The various workshops we completed were an especially collaborative effort, for example as a group we felt mental health issues were a key concern and the next day the team invited a special practitioner to discuss her creative company using performance arts to rehabilitate.

Throughout these activities, we also developed our interpersonal skills in a range of different ways. One of my personal favourite moments was practicing interviewing skills with the opportunity to interview Gabriele and Relik from Reprezent Radio , a great example of another youth- lead initiative.

I believe our manifesto will enable change not only in organisations within the creative industry but also the most important participants, the youth, the future creative leaders.'

Listen to our playlist of music which we find inspiring

With thanks to

LA Philharmonic's Youth Orchestra Los Angeles (YOLA), National Youth Orchestra of Great Britian, Big Noise, Sistema Scotland, Sage Gateshead, Bristol Plays Music and B+A.

This project was funded by Art 50, a scheme commissioned by Sky Arts to explore the notion of modern British identity.

Photography by Camilla Greenwell