Arts Education Exchange celebrates after receiving £223,917 from the National Lottery
Arts Education Exchange is today celebrating after being awarded £223,917 in National Lottery funding to support its work with young people in the area. The charity, based in Margate, Kent, will use the money to continue to support young people, aged 11 - 30, to access a high quality person centred creative education programme. The community arts organisation delivers ‘Creative Learning Interventions’ for young people who are disengaged with mainstream education and experience challenging circumstances.
To mark the occasion, the Arts Education Exchange youth led record label 'AEE Recordings' are offering an exciting opportunity for a local young musician/band to win £1000 worth of support to progress their musical development. AEE are currently encouraging young people aged 14 - 30 to enter the competition by posting a short video clip showcasing their musical talent on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter and tagging @ArtsEdex along with the hashtag #AEERecordings. The winner will receive recording studio access, a song commercially digitally released, music industry coaching, a professional music video and photoshoot. Young musicians currently running AEE Recordings will select the winner to be announced on 9th December 2019.
Arts Education Exchange has been running since 2017 and has a team of three staff and volunteers. It was founded by Ollie Briggs, who set up the organisation to meet the growing need for alternative learning models amid school and youth service cuts and the marginalisation of arts education. AEE aims to develop new ways of working in and with the community to create positive social change.
The new funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, which distributes money raised by the National Lottery players for good causes is the largest community funder in the UK. Funding will enable Arts Education Exchange to engage thirty seven young people each year in a personalised learning programme specifically designed to help them make positive long term changes in their lives. In addition, up to eighty young people will access their specialist facilities through drop in sessions and additional workshops, curated by young people. An exciting new paid employment and training scheme will also be launched for 4 young people during the 2 year funding period, in collaboration with the Jobcentre. Candidates will work with the AEE team to support youth sessions, develop creative portfolios and achieve the Gold Arts Award (level 3 qualification).
Ollie Briggs, founder of Art Education Exchange, says: “we are absolutely thrilled that the Community Lottery have recognised the value of our work, here in Margate. This funding means we can really focus on developing our youth programmes, listening to and working with more young people experiencing disadvantage. Our work will build new communities based on equality and develop creative and cultural exchanges which celebrate diverse voices."
