Creative Youth are delighted to announce that applications are now open for the 2015 International Youth Arts Festival (IYAF), which is rapidly becoming one of the largest and most diverse youth events in the world. From the 3rd – 19th July 2015, the streets and venues of Kingston will come alive as young people from the ages of 5 to 26 showcase the very best in youth arts selected from the UK and Internationally.

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST NOW OPEN

Now in its third year, Kingston Connections is a celebration of storytelling from across the borough and around the world. From theatre to dance, spoken word to music, academia to experimental the Festival of Stories is an exploration of the varied, vibrant and exciting forms of storytelling that shape our past, present and future.

Our first year, in 2013, saw the theme, Our Story Begins, take hold with new and exciting ideas being explored. Last year, Our Story Continues, saw existing relationships and connections bloom across the year and in 2015, we will look at The Untold Story.

Organised by Creative Youth, Kingston University, Rose Theatre Kingston, Community Brain and the Borough, Kingston Connections invites you to join us and start a storytelling revolution!

We’d be delighted to hear from anyone who’d like to be involved and please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions. For further information please see the Kingston Connections Brief and Expression of Interest Form below.

Kingston Connections 2015 – Expressions of Interest FINAL

Kingston Connections 2015 – Brief – FINAL

Please return all forms by FRIDAY 30TH JANUARY, 5PM, 2015

If you think you don’t have a story, think again…

As the dust settles on another incredible year for the International Youth Arts Festival, Kingston, it falls to me to say a tremendous thank you to everyone involved in making this year such a glorious success.  To our hardworking Creative Youth and venue staff, our talented participants, our supportive audiences and our passionate volunteers – you are the soul of this festival and what makes it so very special – Thank You!!!

This year’s IYAF featured over 320 events over 23 days across 18 venues in Kingston upon Thames.  Just shy of 10,000 audience members attended ticketed performances with tens of thousands more enjoying free outdoor work.  Approximately 4000 young people participated in the festival including performers, production teams, our dedicated press team, workshops participants and 120 volunteers without whom the festival would simply not be possible.

I’d like to give a special mention to our three ‘Best of the Fest’ shows: The Common Land by Fine Mess Theatre (http://www.finemesstheatre.co.uk/), Method in Madness by Entita Theatre (http://www.entitatheatre.co.uk/Entita/HOME.html) and You must be the one to bury me by Waldeinsamkeit Theatre (http://waldeinsamkeit.co.uk/).

A huge congratulations and thanks also goes to our ‘Volunteer of the Year’ – Layla Sanjoori

Photos from the festival can be viewed here and here

All 10 of the brilliant newsletters produced by our young volunteer press team, plus reviews, interviews and features can be viewed here 

Please keep following us on Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr for updates throughout the year!

So as we begin to close the door on 2014 and look forwards to the excitement of 2015 (applications open in September!) I will leave the final words to some of those that have been so moved by IYAF this year.

Best wishes

Aniela & all the Creative Youth team.

“I came to Kingston with no expectations and then I had the best time of my life. I met some amazing and inspirational people. I had so much fun and I had the chance to work with some great people in the press team! I just loved the whole atmosphere of the festival! I’m definitely coming back next year!”

IYAF Volunteer

“The most supportive arts festival around”

“The Festival atmosphere is infectious!”

“IYAF is fantastico great!!! Long may it prosper”

IYAF Participants

“A Spectacular Summer Event”

“Can’t wait for next year already!”

“Totally Rocking!”

“Amazing. One of the best kids shows I’ve ever seen”

“Most creative theatre piece I have seen in a long time”

IYAF Audiences

It is with great pleasure that we announce that the 2015 International Youth Arts Festival will run from the 3rd – 19th July 2015!

Applications to participate in IYAF 2015 will open on the 1st November 2014. This year we are moving to an online submission process to make everything easier for all our participants! If you join our mailing list today you will be the first to receive our details on how to participate!

IYAF Kingston has left us all with great memories and exhilarating experiences. We would like to thank everyone who joined us this year in a wonderful roller coaster ride full of joy and laughter!  A great big thank you o our wonderful volunteers, participants and audiences, we could not have done all this without you! We are looking forward to seeing you all again next year, to help us bring Kingston to life and get the town buzzing once more!

Please give us your feedback by answering the short survey below:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HSSRMP5

We really appreciate and value your opinion and insight! Help us become even better!