This is the very first organisation in our new feature ‘Business of the Month’ and we feel Future Arts deserved to be our first due to their oustanding contribution to the local community.
Future Arts is a an organisation in Leeds that helps young people find their way in life. After visiting, I couldn’t help but feel inspired by this company. They have helped people who have lost their way and who ordinarily, would settle for a job which is much less than they are worth. Future Arts is the voice defending young people against the war that has started against them in society and in the media. They are there to listen to their stories and help them get back on track, but what is the companies story and who is behind it?
.
Paula Temple is the founder of Future Arts, she has had 15 years experience DJing and has appeared at number of festivals around the world as well as her music featuring on Radio One. She is also the only certified female Ableton trainer in the UK. Paula faced major challenges in her life before becoming a successful DJ.
.
Paula said, “It was the help and support of people around me that got me through tough times and having somewhere to go. That’s when I decided to set up Future Arts, it’s a place where young people can come and be creative, learn new skills and help them gain the experience they need to go to college or become more employable.”
.
Besides Paula Future Arts has a strong team behind it who have great contacts within different industries to help Future Arts succeed in helping young people. Tom Chapman who has nine years experience in the creative industries, Stefanie Boulila who is collaborating with Paula on their latest music project Spank Protest and works as PR officer for Future Arts and J. BravoMC and Hip Hop producer with over 10 years experience.
Talented MC
So what exactly does Future Arts do?
One part of Future Arts is that it is now a creative company which offers services to companies wanting help in graphic design, branding or any kind of multi media. It is exactly like an agency but offers a bigger social return as the profits go towards keeping Future Arts youth initiatives running. As well as that young people are getting the experience they need to make them more employable for the future. Clients that have used Future Arts services range from a diamond company to medical companies, to Leeds City council as well as Technology in Motion.
Before the cuts, Future Arts received money from the government’s Future Jobs Fund to run six month work placements. Over 50 unemployed young people went through the in-house programme gaining hands-on experience and being taught relevant skills in creative, technical and administrative professions. Now Future arts rely on the
Singer and MC
commercial services they provide to make up for the loss of government funding.
Future Arts’ youth initiatives are free to anyone 16-25 and aim to uplift young people who face difficulties in their lives. At the heart of Future Arts’ youth initiatives is Fusion, a music drop-in session which runs runs on Monday nights. At Fusion, aspiring musicians can record their tracks in Future Arts’ in-house studio and work with music production software such as Ableton, Reason and Logic. Young people get guidance on how to produce, perform and promote their music.
.
Wednesdays will soon see the launch of master classes around Future Arts’ own youth television channel, Erase TV. The workshops are taught by industry professionals from ITV Yorkshire which has been in partnership with Future Arts for nearly two years. There are also master classes in multimedia , music and professional development where industry experts share their knowledge and experience.
.
There are some amazing stories of young people who have really succeed in life thanks to Future Arts. One girl got offered a placement at ITV, a 17 year old got the opportunity to go to college to follow his dream after having no GCES’s and being homeless, another guy got to tour with Bjork and work behind the scenes and another has their own night in Leeds and his tracks are currently on the radio.
What can you do to help?
On the 22nd of November Future Arts is holding a launch event of their Social B2B certification which accredits ethical buyers of digital services. On the night the CEO of Leeds City Council Tom Riordan and CEO of Communication foundation Sally-Ann Greenfield will be speaking.
Future Arts are always looking for volunteers, mentors or speakers for master classes to come in and help tech these talented young people, new skills and share their experiences. There is major emerging talent that you can help and be part of.
If you are a company needing any assistance in multimedia, apps, branding or filming then please contact Future Arts. Your money will go towards a great cause and help make a difference in society.
If you are between 16 – 25 and feel you want to learn new skills in a safe environment then please do not hesitate to contact Future Arts.
Visit www.futurearts.co.uk for more information.
