Autum programme reflections
A Creative Start to the New Term at AEE
There’s been plenty happening at AEE as we dive into a new term full of creativity, ideas and new opportunities! It’s been lovely to welcome everyone back and see the space filling up with energy, conversations, music and creative projects. There’s already lots to celebrate, and plenty more to look forward to.
Creativity, culture and community
We’ve been celebrating UK Black History Month, taking the opportunity to recognise the creativity, contributions and cultural influence of Black communities. It’s been a chance for both the team and young people to discover Black visionaries, artists and influential figures, explore stories we might not have encountered before and perhaps see familiar things from a different perspective. Learning about the people who have shaped art, music and culture can open up all sorts of conversations and inspire new ideas of our own.
It’s also been a busy time for building connections and creating new opportunities. We’ve welcomed a fantastic laptop donation from Computers for Good and SIM cards from Places for People. These contributions will help young people access technology, stay connected and explore new ways of learning, creating and communicating. Digital access can make a real difference, opening doors to opportunities that might otherwise feel out of reach.
We’re also keen to support the brilliant work happening in our local community. Red Rebel will soon be joining us at AEE to deliver a DJ workshop, bringing new sounds, skills and creative experiences into our space. We love opportunities like this that allow young people to try something different, meet new people and discover interests they might not have explored before.
The team also enjoyed a visit to Quench Gallery, taking some time to experience the exciting artistic work happening locally and gather a little inspiration along the way. It’s important that we keep exploring, learning and connecting with the creative community around us too!
Making music, making art, making things happen
Our Advanced Music programme is now underway, giving young musicians the opportunity to take their ideas further and develop their own creative identities. This is about more than learning an instrument or improving technical skills. Young people will be creating and producing their own music, working towards a digital release and finishing with a live gig at the Tom Thumb Theatre in Margate. From those first ideas and experiments to sharing their music with an audience, it’s a chance to experience what it means to take a creative project from beginning to end.
Meanwhile, our Visual Arts group have been busy exploring ideas, experimenting with materials and developing their own creative practices. We’re also encouraging young people to think beyond the artwork itself and consider how it might be presented, shared and experienced by others. This includes developing ideas for exhibitions in our windows and our dedicated AEE exhibition space, giving young artists the opportunity to see their work out in the world and have it recognised and celebrated.
At AEE, we believe creative work is about much more than the finished product. It’s about having the freedom to experiment, make mistakes, take creative risks and discover what you’re capable of. It’s about finding your own voice, developing confidence in your ideas and having the opportunity to share them with others. Sometimes the biggest achievement isn’t a finished song or painting, but the confidence to try something new, the determination to keep going or the realisation that you have something worth sharing.
We want AEE to be a space where young people feel comfortable being curious, expressing themselves and finding their own direction, with the encouragement and support to take their ideas wherever they might lead.
Looking ahead
There’s plenty more to come! Over half term, we’re looking forward to bringing our Youth Pride community together for a workshop. It’ll be a chance to reconnect, get creative and celebrate the young people who have helped make Youth Pride what it is. We’ll also be taking some time to reflect on their experiences, the things they’ve achieved and the difference they’ve made along the way.
We’re also looking forward to getting involved with Off Season Margate and finding new ways to share young people’s creativity with the wider community. One of our plans is to bring artwork into our windows with a collaboration between sound and image! This will be giving young artists the opportunity to see their work displayed and appreciated by people passing by.
It’s shaping up to be another exciting term at AEE. The team have returned with plenty of creative energy, and we’re looking forward to seeing the ideas, collaborations and projects that emerge over the coming months. Most importantly, we’re looking forward to continuing to create opportunities for young people to explore their interests, build confidence, develop their skills and discover what they’re capable of.
There’s always something happening at AEE, so watch this space!
Greg (Programme Manager)