Takeover Cardiff 2013 – Assembly opens its doors to young people for youth culture event
10 October 2013
The National Assembly for Wales’s Deputy Presiding Officer, David Melding AM, will welcome young people to the Senedd on Saturday, 12 October, to officially open the Takeover Cardiff event.
Takeover Cardiff 2013 is a British Council Wales-organised event which will see major venues in the city handed over to young people to participate in arts-based workshops and events.
International experts from across a variety of areas including dance, literature and filmmaking will provide the expertise.
The Senedd joins other venues such as the Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Central Library and the National Museum of Wales in opening its doors.
“It is a great pleasure to welcome young people to the seat of Welsh democracy,” the Deputy Presiding Officer said.
“It’s good to see our city’s iconic cultural venues being taken over by young people to curate, develop and participate in their own arts programmes. Let’s hope that these programmes will be successful in empowering the young people involved and in showcasing new and emerging Welsh talent on the world stage.
“Young people are the future of Wales, which is why we are using this opportunity to promote our nationwide youth consultation ‘Your Assembly – your say, your way’ about how the National Assembly for Wales should engage with young people?
“We want the young people to tell us what matters to them, what they expect from us and what we can do to make sure their voices are heard."
Only 35 per cent of 18 to 24-year-olds turned out to vote in the last Assembly election in 2011, and this disengagement among young people is supported by turnout in other elections, as well as wider research.
That’s why the Presiding Officer made youth engagement one of her key priorities for the Fourth Assembly, as although people under the age of 16 aren’t eligible to vote, they can still have a say in how Wales is run by helping to shape laws and contribute to inquiries.
A new website, www.yourassembly.org, was launched in September to encourage young people to tell the Assembly what they care about and how they want to get involved.
The site features an online survey and offers the opportunity to hold group discussions organised by National Assembly staff where ideas can be proposed and exchanged.
As well as the survey and discussion groups young people are encouraged to express their views via @YourAssembly or using #YourAssembly on twitter, post to the Your Assembly Facebook page or submit videos.
The young people visiting the Assembly as part of the Takeover Cardiff event will also receive a pack for the Your Assembly nationwide youth consultation.
Simon Dancey, Director, British Council Wales said: ‘We are extremely proud and excited to be launching Takeover Cardiff with our partners! This unique opportunity allows us to work with future global citizens, and bring international leaders to share their expertise.
“Wales has a beautifully unique culture, and Takeover Cardiff will allow this to be showcased to the world.
“While this may be a taster event, we are enthusiastic to be bringing this to the public and hope everyone will follow the path around the city.”