The story so far

A new species of creativity

Formed in 2003 from a combined background of 30 years of arts practice, development and education, Hybrid Arts is a social enterprise dedicated to creating opportunities for young people.

Hybrid Arts create bespoke vocational training opportunities underpinned by creative technology – enriching lives through the experience of self-expression.

Hybrid Arts provide an innovative creative learning experience, where young people form part of a dynamic environment in which they can develop their creative passions and learn new skills in the process. We provide a chance for the community to experience first hand what life is like in a pioneering simulated studio environment within the creative industries.

Creative practice is integral to our success in designing compelling training packages, and we undertake research, development and production of creative projects that are diverse as they are innovative. At Hybrid Arts young people have access to studios equipped with industry-standard hardware and software, and sessions are delivered by practising artists – we believe that being part of a professional learning environment has a positive motivational impact on society.

The Hybrid model is being recognised regionally, nationally and internationally. Our most documented work is our progressive activity with 14-19 year olds who are NEET (not engaged in mainstream education, employment or training). Close working with this challenging but often inspirational group of young people has helped to shape Hybrid Arts, and our experiences have resulted in Hybrid Arts being approached by government agencies from across Europe to be used as case studies to demonstrate best practice. One group in particular generated a great deal of attention from educators, MPs, young people, the local community and policy makers…please read our Taming of the Crew story thetamingofthecrew and tamingofthecrewchapter2.

We work by the ethos that young people who have failed to benefit from the mainstream educational process can be motivated by involvement in the creative technologies. These technologies are a fantastic medium for harnessing creative potential and providing young people with the motivation and confidence to pursue their chosen path, whether that means entering into further education, employment in the creative industries, or something entirely different.

Our promotion of alternative learning practises has placed us at the forefront of educational innovation, and our vision is in tune with the Government agendas for children, young people and digital inclusion. In 2008 we were visited by Liam Byrne MP, Minister for the West Midlands, who said: “You see a lot of things in this job, and you should be really proud of what you’ve done here. It’s one of the most extraordinary things I’ve seen since I became the Regional Minister.”

The winning combination of creativity and education has the capacity to broaden horizons and makes for an altogether unique experience.