Transforming creative pathways for young people

The Centre for Young Lives think tank and iconic London venue and youth charity, Roundhouse, have launched the new Young Creatives Commission. It is a year‑long national inquiry into how to widen children and young people’s access to arts, culture and the creative industries.

Aims of the commission

The commission will develop new solutions to put arts alongside sport as a core pillar of youth engagement and opportunity. It will draw on lessons from sport, including the role of clear pathways, strong local infrastructure, sustained investment and talent development models. The aim is to explore how similar approaches could be adapted to widen access, participation and progression in arts and culture. It will also put forward practical pathways into creative education and careers with a focus on boosting opportunities for young people aged 10-25, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds.

The inquiry brings together a distinguished panel of commissioners with wide‑ranging experience across arts, culture, sport and industry:

• Angela Griffin – actor and director
• SHERELLE – DJ and presenter
• Daniel Mays – actor
• Jack Rooke – comedian and writer
• Marcus Davey CBE – chief executive and artistic director, Roundhouse (co-chair)
• Alex White – chief executive, Premier League Foundation
• Ange Pattico – chief people officer, Universal Music Group (UK)
• Baroness Dinah Caine of Kentish Town CBE – former chief executive and later chair of creative skillset
• Baroness Anne Longfield CBE– founder, Centre for Young Lives (co-chair)
• Caroline Norbury OBE – chief executive, Creative UK
• Asher Cottrell – Roundhouse young trustee, DJ and youth voice facilitator

About Roundhouse and Centre for Young Lives

The commission will be led by the Centre for Young Lives think tank and youth charity Roundhouse, the London-based performance space and leading creative centre for young people.

Roundhouse is approaching its 20th anniversary. It is celebrating having worked with more than 100,000 young people through its creative youth programme. The programme offers affordable opportunities in music, performance, broadcasting, film, spoken word, dance and entrepreneurship. It also provides access to professional studios for creatives aged 13–25, from as little as £1 an hour.

Next steps

The commission’s final report will come in December 2026. Between now and then, its team will gather evidence from across the country. The goal is to highlight existing success stories, and develop an ambitious programme of recommendations to: 

• improve access to arts and creative spaces in local communities
• strengthen the role of the arts in education, wellbeing and youth development
• remove barriers to participation, inclusion and representation
• support non‑formal learning and creative enrichment beyond the classroom
• provide clear proposals to guide policymakers, funders and cultural leaders

Why creativity matters

The commission starts from the principle that creativity should be integral to every young person’s life. Participation in the arts can be transformative as it can:

• help young people to discover identity and purpose
• boost mental health and wellbeing
• build technical and transferable skills for future employment

However, access is increasingly unequal and arts budgets continue to be squeezed in schools. Many state schools have cut back creative subjects such as music, drama and dance. Outside school, grassroots arts and youth organisations have faced two decades of significant funding reductions. As a result, millions of young people are missing out on local creative spaces and opportunities. This particularly effects those in areas of high deprivation.

The commission launches at a pivotal moment as the Government rolls out a new national curriculum, an ‘enrichment guarantee’, its national youth strategy, the Youth Guarantee, and Young Futures hubs.

Industry voices

Marcus Davey CBE, chief executive and artistic director, Roundhouse, said:

“Young people are facing a genuine crisis. The Young Creatives Commission is our response – bringing the Roundhouse together with leaders from across the creative sector and beyond to drive meaningful change.”

Haroon Chowdry, chief executive of the Centre for Young Lives, said:

“Creativity should be a normal and expected part of every young person’s life.

“The Young Creatives Commission has been established to create a fairer, more inclusive approach to creativity for young people.”

Daniel Mays, critically acclaimed British actor, said:

“For me, the Commission represents a wonderful opportunity to forensically address the issue of accessibility for young, working class people within the creative industries.”

Jack Rooke, comedian and writer, and alumni of the Roundhouse, said:

“As an artist I can feel things, but as a commissioner, I can actually look at real solutions for our industry and our young people.”

For more information, visit www.youngcreativescommission.org.