Let’s Talk About… Symposium

Posted on by Ellen McNeill

Let’s Talk About… Symposium

Tuesday 1 April at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland

Two people (an adult and toddler) looking intently to the left

On 1 April 2025 the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland ran it’s first ever symposium exploring ways of working with care experienced and estranged artists, students and participants.

The symposium was an opportunity to share the projects, practices and research that informs RCS Fair Access’ approach to providing the right support and creating spaces where artists and learners can thrive.

We were overwhelmed by the warmth, generosity and engagement in all of the activities and spaces, beautifully held by the artists and facilitators who shared their work. This event continues our commitment to improving practice, making connections and building a community who support this work.

You can view some of the work shared on the day in this photo essay and hear participants talk about what the day meant to them in this film:

The Let’s Talk About… Portal is the culmination of a longitudinal Fair Access project spanning several years exploring better practice when working with care experienced and estranged young people, students and artists. Let’s Talk About… have been funded by the William Grant Foundation.

The Story Cart

Posted on by Yvonne McLellan

Let’s Talk About… The Story Cart

R&D Show Test With Young Audiences

Two adults leading a workshop in a hall with primary aged children

The work-in-progress show was devised and performed by care-experienced and estranged artists and centred around a mysterious cart.

Special thanks to the William Grant Foundation for funding us and a huge thank you to Blackfriars and Cleeves Primaries, Kibble, Clifftop Projects and RCS Short Courses for hosting us. We performed and discussed the show with more than 125 young children and we loved all the ideas that came from our R&D. We learned so much from the process and hope to take our learning forwards into a play-centred performance experience in the future.

Gordon Schools Visit to RCS

Posted on by Yvonne McLellan

Let’s Talk About… Aberdeenshire

Gordon Schools Visit to RCS

A mix of people on a theatre visit

A mix of people sitting and chatting

A couple of years ago, a care group was set up in the Gordon Schools, Huntly so that young people with care experience could work, collaborate and socialise together. Visual Artist Graeme Roger and Sound Artist Dave Martin worked with this group on a highly successful visual/sonic adventure – and the good practice has spread. In November 2023, a group of 9 young people from the Meldrum Academy care group held an exhibition of the work they created on a Fair Access project with visual artist Graeme Roger and Dave Martin. More than 300 people visited the exhibition.

There are now 9 care groups in Aberdeenshire, enabled by inspirational Virtual Head Teacher Holly Robertson. Each group is different, though some are lucky enough to work with Graeme and Dave on visual/sonic projects. This week we hosted the original care group from the Gordon Schools at RCS for a 2 day whirlwind tour. The group met with care experienced undergraduate students, watched Into the Woods, got back-stage tours and behind the scenes workshop tours. They were treated to a cello recital, met with film students and had a total ball. We are so happy to make this kind of work possible and can’t wait to work with the group again.

Contact Us

If you would like more information on any of our ‘Let’s Talk About’ projects, contact the team on: fairaccesshello@rcs.ac.uk

Movement and Coaching Session

Posted on by Yvonne McLellan

Let’s Talk About… Mull

Movement and Coaching Session

A group of young people holding someone in the air

Two young people holding each other up

Two people practicing movement

A group of people miming

A group of people sitting in a round

At the end of November, we spent an inspiring couple of days on Mull as part of our Let’s Talk About… project.

Screenwriter Colleen Bell and movement specialist Genna Allen, both with lived experience of care or estrangement, worked alongside a group of young people from Mull Youth Theatre. Their intention was to develop working practices which are nurturing for all participants, regardless of their background or experience.

They used writing, movement and group coaching sessions to help them develop a caring creative practice manifesto. The sessions were supported by our Fair Access Team alongside Mull Youth Theatre Director Andi Stevens, and photographer Sarah Darling.

We are still working on the manifesto, but we will share it once it’s ready in the hope others might be inspired by it.

Contact Us

If you would like more information on any of our ‘Let’s Talk About’ projects, contact the team on: fairaccesshello@rcs.ac.uk

The Melwood Project

Posted on by Yvonne McLellan

The Melwood Project

Monday 13 November

Meldrum Academy, Aberdeenshire

A sound and video installation created by pupils at Meldrum Academy

This exhibition, created by young people from Meldrum Academy is a creative response to spaces and places around Aberdeenshire including Aberdeen Art Gallery and Newburgh Seal Beach.

The group of care-experienced young people have worked over six weeks with artists Graeme Roger (Wildbird) and Dave Martin, learning how to use audio and visual technology to capture footage of sights and sounds which inspire them.

This project is part of a larger research project looking at how best practice can take shape for arts practitioners engaging with care-experienced and estranged young people.

Got questions?

Contact the team if you have any questions on fairaccesshello@rcs.ac.uk

Creating Space

Posted on by Yvonne McLellan

Creating Safe and Nurturing Creative Space

24 & 25 November 2023

Mull Youth Theatre, Isle of Mull

Artists Colleen Bell (Screenwriter) and Genna Allen (Movement Specialist) will be joining young people from Mull Youth Theatre for an exploration of how we can create safe, supportive and nurturing spaces for children through creative activities. This exciting work is part of a larger research project looking at how arts practitioners engage with care experienced and estranged young people. Through practical activities, discussion and reflection the group aim to develop good practice and make a real difference in their creative communities on Mull.