Two thirds of young people in Yorkshire say they’ve been advised not to pursue careers in television and film by parents and teachers.
That’s according to a new survey from National Youth Theatre and Netflix.
They also found that 83% of those surveyed thought that a lack of connections in the sector was holding them back from breaking into the industry.
The 2 organisations have come together to set up IGNITE Your Creativity at Production Park in West Yorkshire to tackle the problem.
“These challenging statistics show that too many young people in West Yorkshire feel held back from creative careers because of a lack of support or contacts,” explained Anna Mallett, Vice President, Production APAC, EMEA and the UK, Netflix.
“Yorkshire has given the world amazing stories, global stars and stunning film and TV. We’re delighted to partner with the National Youth Theatre to help young creatives in West Yorkshire build the networks and skills needed to make their mark in the creative industries.”
The survey showed that almost half (46%) believed they needed to live in London to start a career in television and film.
“IGNITE is a vital intervention at a time when the arts are in decline in our education system and the talent pipeline to our thriving creative industries is under threat,” added Paul Roseby, CEO at the National Youth Theatre.
“Those taking part tell us that these workshops have been instrumental in demystifying the entertainment industry and the exciting careers available in TV, film and theatre production, and that they feel they now have a clear ladder to progression. This is invaluable in building the future of the UK creative industries.”
IGNITE Your Creativity is a free programme to help young people build their networks and raise awareness about the wide range of behind the scenes careers available in film, TV and theatre.
The programme is set to expand into the North East later in the year.
