Young people in Liverpool are set to benefit from funded opportunities to help them break into creative industries.
Liverpool is one of several cities to benefit from the government’s newly announced partnership with The King’s Trust and The Elba Hope Foundation.
The partnership, which will see a £500,000 expansion of The King’s Trust’s pre-existing Creative Futures initiative, aims to break down barriers facing young people entering creative industries.
Targeting those not in education or work, the expansion will see a further 400 courses in DJing, theatre, visual arts, events and enterprise, provided across the UK.
While the programme targets backgrounds underrepresented in these industries, Liverpool filmmaker Will Fennah believes it is still not enough.
Asked about whether the funding could get rid of the barriers facing young people, Fennah said: “It depends where and who the money is directed at. I’d say they need to look at regions unrepresented as well as people themselves.”
He continued: “The North West made up just 9% of total full-time employment within the industry. However, outside of London it is the biggest region of production in England.
“The barriers facing young people in the industries isn’t money related – it’s much deeper.”
This is an idea shared by local DJ Jonnie Hickey.
He said: “I think support for young DJs is limited in Liverpool due to current economic conditions, but it also limited by the fact a lot of promoters/big players in the local music scene are less willing to take risks to encourage new talent.”
Despite this, Hickey does believe the money could help.
He said: “The main gap that exists is the lack of investment into facilities and spaces where DJs can learn and network.
“With investment, communities could collaborate within others in the industry to create better learning and better pathways in the city.”
Featured image: Unsplash
