Login

lost password?

About ENYAN

What is ENYAN?

ENYAN (the English National Youth Arts Network) is a membership service aiming to create connections between the diverse youth and arts sectors within England, as well as further a field. A ‘network within networks’ and a ‘network of networks’.

ENYAN is the culmination of over four years work by Artswork, the national youth arts development agency.

ENYAN is part-funded by national lottery money from Arts Council England South East.

ENYAN aims to:

  • To raise the profile and support for youth arts within England, and by doing so create more opportunities for the creative and personal development of young people, especially young people at risk
  • To support the quality, growth and sustainability of youth arts provision within England for both professionals and volunteers, via a national programme of professional development, and an enhanced range of networking and skills sharing opportunities
  • To support and encourage the delivery and development of youth arts provision at both regional and local levels within England, to benefit the whole community
  • To develop a platform to support, encourage and promote opportunities for international and cultural exchange and development within the youth arts sector

Who is ENYAN for?

ENYAN is for anyone and everyone currently using or looking to use the arts in their work with young people, especially young people at risk: Local authorities, National Government, Arts Venues, Organisations, Artists, Youth Workers, Young People, Health and Social Services, Training providers, Funders, Religious Organisations, Volunteers, Uniformed groups, Students, Creative Partnerships, Connexions and more.

What services and activities will ENYAN provide?

Through ongoing consultation with the diverse youth arts sector, ENYAN will be delivered across four main services and activities:

  • The ENYAN website: Internet based information services, resources and advice
  • A national programme of professional development: Promoting information on youth arts CPD and career opportunities, including Artswork’s Artsplan department
  • A national forum for advocacy and lobbying: uniting, strengthening and giving voice to the sector, including an annual campaign
  • Regional development: national and regional forums building and supporting the regional youth arts development infrastructure across England; regional training centres and networking events; advocating for the creation of new networks where they do not currently exist

During the three year pilot at least one networking event will be held in each region, with a national event planned for year three. An ongoing programme of professional development will be delivered regionally via Artsplan Training Centres, throughout the three years.

How is ENYAN delivered?

ENYAN and Artsplan (professional development) have been developed and are delivered by Artswork, the national youth arts development agency. Established in 1987, Artswork is an independent charity, committed to generating creative opportunities for young people aged 12-25, with a priority for working with young people at risk.

The ENYAN team consists of:

  • ENYAN Management – Anna Rubycz, ENYAN Development Manager
  • ENYAN Projects Assistant -Lisa Gardner
  • ENYAN Assistant (Intern)-Emma Pooley
  • Professional Development – Jay Barron, Artsplan Development Manager
  • Upstart Online – Virginia Haworth-Galt, Director, Artswork
  • Upstart Online Journalists (Interns) – Amy Courtney and Robert Valls Tuñón

ENYAN is overseen by Virginia Haworth Galt Director, Artswork.

Three levels of focus groups have been established to allow continuous consultation on the development of ENYAN at all levels:

YAN UK

A forum of all the national youth arts networks in England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales.

ENYAN Steering Group

Representatives from relevant national youth arts and related organisations in England:

  • Chair: Yen Yau, Strategic Partnerships Manager, First Light

Observers:

  • Bay Corbishley, Arts Education Team DCMS
  • Shad-Carine Ohayon, Creativity and Art team, DFES

Patron: Chris Smith MP, The Right Hon. Lord of Finsbury; former Secretary of State for Culture; Director, The Clore Leadership Programme.

Regional Advisory Panels (RAPs)

Artswork has established RAPs in each of the nine Arts Council England regions, to encourage regional and local development and input into the network. Details of RAP contacts can be found on the Regional pages, under the Youth Arts World section of the site.

Online community

The ENYAN team welcomes individual contributions from anyone involved in youth arts activity at national or grass roots level. The ENYAN website has been deliberately designed as an online community, with space for comments, ongoing consultation, networking and exchange with other members. Outside of this you may contact the ENYAN Team directly at any time.