Creative Encounters is an exciting partnership project between Imaginate and North Edinburgh Arts, which is taking a children’s rights-based approach to theatre and dance performance creation.
In Year 2 of the project, we worked with two groups of young people from Forthview Primary School and Pilton Youth and Children’s Project (PYCP). Each group commissioned and co-created a new performance which featured at the North Edinburgh Community Festival and Edinburgh International Children’s Festival Family Encounters at the National Museum of Scotland.
About Forthview Primary School:
“Forthview is a special primary school because it’s the first school where they did Creative Encounters. It’s a really nice place, everyone’s kind, there’s free iPads, and it has the best library in the world. We have fun things to do, and we’re curious about people and the world.” – P6 pupils from Forthview
Forhview commissioned Soup by Suzi Cunningham and Alex McCabe from Moonslide. Read more about Soup.
About Pilton Youth and Children’s Project (PYCP):
“PYCP is a club for children, it is fun and kind, you get to do loads of activities like baking and art, and work with Imaginate too.” – Willow, PYCP participant
PYCP commissioned The Boy Who Couldn't Sit Still by Cecilia Thoden van Velzen and Cameron Prince. Read more about The Boy Who Couldn't Sit Still.
Project activity
Throughout the 2023/24 school year, Creative Project Facilitator Lou Brodie delivered workshops exploring the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, performance styles and commissioning performance.
In November 2023, children reviewed submissions from artists and each group invited two artists to pitch their ideas to the committee in December 2023, where Forthview chose Soup and PYCP chose The Boy Who Couldn’t Sit Still.
The young people love content creation and suggested we make YouTube videos together. In 2024, they launched "Fake Moustache News", a playlist on our YouTube channel where they shared updates about Creative Encounters and the Children’s Festival. Watch Fake Moustache News now!
In March and April 2024, the commissioned artists delivered workshops exploring prop design, movement, character development, and sound design. These workshops were central to the development of both performances.
In May 2024, Soup and The Boy Who Couldn’t Sit Still were presented at the North Edinburgh Community Festival (11 May) and Edinburgh International Children’s Festival Family Encounters (25 May). The young people from Forthview and PYCP joined us for Family Encounters and a special delegae day at the Children's Festival.
The young people's influence is extending to other aspects of Imaginate, too. The young people co-hosted our Festival Launch, recorded a Front of House announcement, met members of our Senior Leadership Team, and offered comments on the 2024 Festival programme. Collaborating with Forthview and Pilton Youth and Children's Project is allowing us to explore a children's rights approach for Imaginate.
