At Creative Youth, we believe in the power of the arts to transform lives and create brighter futures. 

For over 16 years, we've been empowering young people aged 5-30 to realise their potential through creative expression. Our mission is simple: to provide spaces and platforms where young voices can be heard, talents can be nurtured, and dreams can be realised. 

From the vibrant streets of Kingston to stages around the world, our work has touched thousands of lives. Whether through FUSE International (formerly IYAF - International Youth Arts Festival), the UK’s largest youth arts festival, our year-round Creative Talent Programme, or the countless opportunities provided by our new multi-arts venue, FUSEBOX, we’ve helped shape the futures of the next generation of artists, creators, and leaders. 

But today, we face an imminent challenge that could jeopardise everything we've built. Due to unforeseen financial difficulties, rising costs and the increasingly challenging funding landscape within the arts and charitable sector, our ability to continue our vital work is at risk. As with festivals across the country, this year's FUSE International suffered from the challenges above and as a result, we need to raise funds to get us through this moment until October, when we will be stable.

We are launching an urgent crowdfunding campaign, and we need your support to ensure that Creative Youth can continue to thrive and inspire. 

The challenging backdrop for the arts

FUSE International is not alone in suffering from higher costs and poorer ticket sales.

• So far this year, 60 festivals have been postponed or cancelled, up from 36 last year, according to the Association of Independent Festivals (AIF). And since 2019, when there were 630 festivals across the country, 192 have disappeared.
• Despite 2.6 million tickets issued and thousands of shows across multiple venues in the city, Fringe bosses have warned that the future of the Edinburgh Festivals are at risk if the UK continues down the path of cuts to arts education
• The Music Venue Trust has highlighted the significant decline in the number of grassroots music venues - between 2007 and 2016, the UK lost approximately 35% of its grassroots music venues.

Why we need your help: 

We need to cover a financial shortfall in September. Your donation isn’t just a contribution; it’s an investment in the future. It’s a lifeline for the young people who rely on us to provide opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach. It’s a chance to keep the arts alive in our community and beyond and your support is needed now more than ever to ensure that we can: 

• Support emerging artists: With your help, we can continue to offer support, mentoring, and performance opportunities to young creatives through our Creative Talent Programme.
• Empower young minds: Your donation will fund skills development, work experience, and training for under-30s, opening doors to careers in the arts and beyond.
• Sustain FUSE International (formerly IYAF): Help us keep the UK’s largest youth arts festival alive, bringing together young artists from around the world to share their talents with thousands of audience members.
• Keep FUSEBOX Open: Ensure that our innovative arts space remains a safe haven for creativity, community, and collaboration.

There will be a thank you wall in FUSEBOX where every individual, organisation and business who supports will be recognised. 

Provide safe spaces for young people to test ideas

We know from our past two music heritage projects that so many stars of the music industry emerged from using small venues and festivals as a testbed of ideas.

A current example of this is SpitLip whose show, Operation Mincemeat (currently at the West End) has received over 67 five-star reviews, making it one of the best reviewed shows in West End history.

Felix Hagan, co-writer of Operation Mincemeat, speaks about the importance of 'honing our craft and creative voice' through many years of trial and testing at small platforms, such as those provided by Creative Youth.

How you can help: 

Every pound you donate brings us closer to our goal of keeping Creative Youth alive and thriving. Whether it’s £10 or £1,000, your contribution will make a real difference. If you can’t donate, please consider sharing our campaign with your networks—every bit of support helps. 

Make a donation today to make a difference
Together we can use the arts to transform lives and create brighter futures.