Posted on 2nd Aug
A group of young people from Newark and Sherwood had a sleepover in an unusual location — the National Civil War Centre in Newark.
The Creative Influencers, aged from 13 to 17, are a group set up by Open Doors, a three-year programme of events organised by Newark and Sherwood District Council and funded by Arts Council England.
Its aim is to increase creative opportunities for young people and under-served groups and become a focal point for culture.
The young people explored the museum, playing card games and trying on the costumes in the Civil War Gallery, and had a film night in the Tudor Hall. One of those films was a montage of clips of their work so far, celebrating all that the Creative Influencers have achieved in their first year.
Tom Cable, facilitator of the Creative Influencers group, said: “The sleepover was one of the first ideas the Creative Influencers came up with when they met to discuss using our venues in new and exciting ways last year.
“It feels like a really fitting celebration to invite them to actually do this almost exactly one year on from that first meeting.”
Over the past year, the Creative Influencers have collectively volunteered more than 150 hours of their time to local community arts and heritage events. They have co-curated their own exhibition in the National Civil War Centre, supported local charity events raising hundreds of pounds for worthwhile causes, and offered countless ideas to help make arts and heritage more accessible for other local teenagers.
Rowan Cozens, deputy leader of the council and portfolio holder for heritage, culture, and the arts, said: “It is fantastic that young people across the district have been given these opportunities and reacted so positively, giving back to their local community and encouraging other young people to do the same.”
