Unleashing talent

“Life beats down and crushes the soul, Art reminds you that you have one” Stella Adler.

We’re all born with a heart full of love, an innate sense of right and wrong and a unique creative talent waiting to be unleashed. Without adequate nurturing, a sense of community and educational opportunities, love turns to hate, morality becomes warped and creativity is lost.

There are currently over one million 16 to 24-year-olds not in education, employment or training. The Leitch Review Of Skills, commissioned by the last Government, concluded, “In the 21st Century, our natural resource is our people – and their potential is both untapped and vast. Skills are the key to unlocking that potential.”

Keith Gilles of Collage Arts, the leading arts development, training andcreative regeneration organisation in North London, argues “Educational funding bodies need to recognise the contribution of the non-formal learning sector (NFLS) in addressing the failings of mainstream education. We provide vocational creative industry training to disadvantaged sections of the community. Funding has not been easily forthcoming for these activities, although funding agencies clearly recognise the value of the non-formal learning sector, they haven’t the awareness or capacity to manage these types of funding relationships.

During the past 5 years, over 45% of Collage Arts Commercial Music learners progressed into university, many of them from a background of no previous qualifications. Funding is a priority to enable learners to participate and achieve and without it, large sections of the community are denied access to a potentially life changing opportunity.

Collage Arts is part of a unique and all-encompassing creative community, a hub of networked artists and musicians housed within a complex of studios and offices in North London, accessible to all sectors of the community. This cooperative offers music masterclasses and business support, film, art and IT courses as well as showcasing commercial events and live music from in-house venue, The Karamel Club. The ethos of self-sufficiency, networking and nourishment is enhanced by the provision of recording studios, enterprise hub and canteen. Opportunities to develop talent exist in events like the Love in the Community Live Bands night and Jam Session really reflect what this place is all about, where known musicians turn up to Jam with new artists. This is where a real photosynthesis of talent occurs – Young people, wherever they are from, however badly damaged and lacking in skills, are like any other organism.
“Water them and they will grow”