The Future Is Ours Festival 2023

The third The Future Is Ours Festival - a celebration of youth creativity, action and voice - is fast approaching. Showcasing, artwork created by young artists accessing, The Horsfall, one of the only art galleries and creative spaces in the world dedicated to young people (aged 13-25). Part of 42nd Street, an innovative Greater Manchester young people’s mental health charity with over 40 years of experience providing free and confidential services to young people (aged 11-25) who are experiencing difficulties with their mental health and emotional wellbeing.

The Horsfall aims to understand the pressures young people are under and to celebrate them for their individuality and abundance of creativity. The festival will feature original artwork created by 9 young artists, from a unique project which links them to a full-time local artist to fully realise their ideas. The festival projects provide the opportunity for young people to take a lead on the subject, medium and creative direction while learning new skills and the practical sides involved in creating and exhibiting artwork through the mentoring of the full-time artist. This approach allows them to gain skills and experience which go on to support them in the future and Rod Kippen the creative producer tells us how this “ensures that the young people get to say what they want in the ways they want to say it”.

From huge maps, new songs, immersive art exhibitions, creative spaces no bigger than a sketch pad to the first-ever Festival of Randomness. Join The Horsfall, 18th-25th March, in a conversation between young people and their city. When their unique designs fill electronic billboards. Thought-provoking posters line Manchester’s streets. Original artwork and talks inspire at The Horsfall gallery and random creative activities and performances takeover Cutting Room Square, in Ancoats. And most importantly join them for the launch of their campaign for young people – “The Right to a Creative Life” and support them in amplifying the youth voice and the benefits of creativity to wellbeing and mental health!

What will the festival involve?

• 10 electronic billboards with designs from 9 young people who have collaborated with professional artists to create artworks expressing their messages to the world.
• A 3-week exhibition of artwork at The Horsfall gallery including paintings, mixed media, music, a comic, sketchbook haven, textiles and 3D work.
• Previews of a huge Dave draws map highlighting places of connection for young people in Manchester, co-created with a young artist Gemma.
• The launch of our campaign “The Right To A Creative Life” with 10 street art posters designed by young artists based on our 8 campaign slogans.
• A Symposium; inviting people from health, social care and education to look at how we can increase access to creative spaces, creative opportunities, creative resources and creative options alongside more traditional support in health and social care for ALL young people- because we know that accessing creative spaces and exploring creativity supports positive mental health.

Festival of Randomness – Random Manchester is about having fun and expressing yourself. Come in fancy dress or your everyday clothes for canvas painting, art activities, a ‘RaNdOm Museum’, and odd creative happenings curated by Ciera and The Shoopery on 25th March, 12-3pm at Cutting Room Square, Ancoats.

When and Where:

Billboards and Street Posters: 18th-25th
Manchester City Centre

The Festival of Randomness: 25th
Cutting Room Square, Ancoats
M4 6BF

Exhibition: 18th-15th April
The Horsfall
87-91 Great Ancoats Street
Ancoats, M4 5AG.