Gallery TS1 Middlesbrough is a pioneering Creative Apprenticeship Scheme for young people not in education, employment or training (NEET), or otherwise vulnerable. Modelled on a programme initially developed in Chicago – Middlesbrough Council’s Cultural Services have worked in partnership with Tees Valley Arts in order that the programme can expand its remarkable success in turning around young people’s lives.
Gallery TS1, a project which works with young people in Middlesbrough, has been praised by Tony Goode, Arts Award Moderator.
Following the most recent Gallery TS1 Arts Award moderation in December, Tony wrote –
“This is the second time that I have visited candidates working from Gallery TS1 and I was again impressed by the quality of care and attention which candidates brought to compiling their folders, as well as the real excellence of the adviser and professional artist support to the young people…there is clear evidence of young people being stretched but enjoying themselves immensely.
An excellent centre with a knowledgeable, committed and professional staff.”
The Arts Award is a national scheme which provides an opportunity to accredit young people’s achievements when participating in the creative arts. The awards, which come in three levels, Bronze, Silver and Gold, represent a step forward for young people and especially for those young people who have, for whatever reason become disengaged with mainstream education and need to get back onto the ladder. Gallery TS1 works in association with Trinity Guildhall and the Young People’s Arts Award. The Arts Award is similar to the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme, in that it offers Awards at bronze, silver and gold levels. Young people who attend Gallery TS1 achieve their Bronze Award – in many cases this is the only qualification these young people have ever gained, and provides accredited achievement at NQF Level 1.
Based in a commercial shop/gallery space with workshop facilities, on Corporation Road, Middlesbrough Gallery TS1 targets hard to reach groups of young people, who work with professional artists to create high quality, saleable products, and sell them to the public, through a short creative industries ‘apprenticeship’.
Young people have been referred to Gallery TS1 from agencies including Connexions, Youth Justice, Youth Psychiatric Services, Teenage Pregnancy Support and Safer Middlesbrough. Mainstream training providers routinely refer young people who are failing to commit to their courses.
Over the last three years, Gallery TS1 has worked with approximately 250 young people previously disengaged from education and training, and over 90% of them went on to enrol for college or further vocational training following their time in the Gallery.
The Gallery TS1 shop is at 57, Corporation Road, Middlesbrough and will next be open in the first two weeks of February and middle two weeks of March, Tuesdays to Saturdays from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm – look out and buy lovely things made by talented local young people!