Young Urban Arts Foundation Teams Up With Sony Music & Sony ATV For The ‘Educate to Create 2020’ Programme

Some of London’s most vulnerable young people will benefit from a month-long programme run by expert charity the Young Urban Arts Foundation, that aims to reach under-served children and teenagers through the power of music and the arts. (Image Credit – Andy Cotterill)

Building on a successful pilot backed by Sony Music UK last year, the “Educate to Create” programme takes a special bus customised with a multimedia studio to some of London’s estates and offers children a chance to learn about music, lyrics, poetry, art and production.

Following the events of this year and inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, the 2020 programme has been expanded to include modules on African cultural awareness, the history of hip hop and the history of black women in the music industry. The music education workshops are delivered by Doctored Sound and regular sessions encourage the young people to draw from their own life experiences when creating their lyrics, poetry and art.

Sony Music and Sony/ATV UK artists and songwriters will visit the estates to inspire the children with stories of their own careers, including BRIT nominated artistJoy Crookes, ZieZie, JNR Williams and Pa Salieu. The weekly workshops are open to 8 to 19-year-olds and will take place in estates in Chelsea, Edmonton, White City and Dalston throughout August – amazing right?!

Kerry O’Brien, CEO and Founder of Young Urban Arts Foundation, said: “Educate to Create is a project that I am extremely proud of, which creates a safe space for young people from all colours and cultures to learn about Black culture and history and enables them to express themselves, be seen, be heard and be celebrated.”

Jason Iley, CEO & Chairman, Sony Music UK & Ireland, said: “Kerry’s dedication to creating opportunities for the next generation and widening access to the creative industries is a vision we whole-heartedly support. Community organisations such as YUAF are vital to the wellbeing of our country’s young people and we are proud to back a valuable initiative that seeks to educate and inspire.”

Joy Crookes said: ”I’m really excited to be involved with the YUAF programme, I believe that these kinds of grass root schemes can have such an impact on changing the landscape and representation within industries as well as engaging the participants with invaluable creative skills.” 

Tim Major, Sony/ATV UK Co-Managing Director, said: “We are incredibly proud to partner with Kerry and her team at YUAF on such an important cause. Young songwriters and artists from all backgrounds should have equal opportunities to learn and express themselves and Educate to Create provides the resources and support to make this happen.”