Tower Hamlets is one of London's fastest-growing & most deprived boroughs; 26.5% of children & young people are considered low-income. Arts engagement improves attainment & wellbeing; yet this borough's young people face compounding barriers to access. GCSE arts enrolment in England has fallen 47% since 2010. 87% of 18-30 year-olds believe they have fewer in-person creative opportunities. Without urgent support, an entire generation will be systematically cut off from pursuing creative careers.

The Yard Theatre’s new building features a Young Artists Studio and a vision for multi-year activity to give CYP in East London pathways into creative careers. We will provide free workshops, subsidised schools tickets to our shows, free Q&As with creative industry professionals, opportunities for free training, shadowing & paid work placements. Past iterations of our CYP programming boast a 91% rate of alumni progressing into further education or employment in the creative industries.