This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Youth urged to take part in democracy
13/03/2002
A three-day congress began today involving over 700
young people who are encouraged to explore their potential
of influencing change through the democratic system.
The Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport Mike Watson
addressed delegates at the
Making Changes Congress - part of a two month
project organised by the TAG Theatre Company. The project
involvesyoung people aged between 12 and 15 from schools in
six local authority areas and encourages them to explore,
through the use of drama based activities, their
responsibilities as members of a democratic society.
Speaking at the beginning of a three-day congress in
Edinburgh, Mike Watson said:
"This project provides our young people with an
excellent opportunity to explore, in an enjoyable way,
their individual responsibilities within the democratic
process and to become active citizens.
"Politics need not be dull. Projects such as this
enliven the learning process and illustrate the role that
arts and culture, especially drama, can play a part in
enabling young people to develop their personal skills,
particularly in areas such as problem solving, self
presentation, research and analytical skills. This is key
to our National Cultural Strategy and should be encouraged
throughout lifelong learning.
"I will soon be making an announcement on a programme to
pilot School Cultural Co-ordinators in Scotland. This pilot
will maximise the contribution of culture to young people's
education, developing their self-confidence, their skills
and creativity and exploring opportunities to widen the
range of experiences available.
"I urge all local authorities to apply for this
programme and, by doing so, to help the young people in
their areas develop into confident and active
citizens."
TAG Theatre Company's
Making Changes Congress will take place from the
13
th to 15
th of March at The Hub, Castlehill, Edinburgh.
The Congress is held in association with the Education
Service of the Scottish Parliament. Through drama-based
activities and debates with MSPs, delegates from
participating schools will explore the democratic
process.
Participating local authorities are: Clackmannanshire
Council, Dumfries and Galloway Council, Dundee City
Council, Fife Council, Glasgow City Council, and North
Ayrshire Council. Almost 60 pupils, aged between 13 and 14
years will take part in the congress.
As proposed in the National Cultural Strategy, a pilot
programme is to be established this summer to identify ways
of maximising the potential contribution of culture to
young people's education, developing their self-confidence,
their skills and creativity, and exploring opportunities to
widen the range of experiences available to children. An
announcement on the details of the pilot programme will be
made in the near future.