What we do...

The Courtyard Youth Arts Centre provides high quality arts activities, development and support for young people in Bicester and the surrounding areas.  Activities for 8 – 19 year olds take place year round and include regular weekly classes, one-off workshops and long-term projects. 

Young people can try new activities, develop their skills in a particular art form and socialise in a welcoming and friendly environment.  Resident youth workers and professional artists run these activities, passing on their skills and experience in order to assist young people to create high quality work.

In addition to offering activities the centre can be used by individuals to develop a particular interest.  Facilities include a photography dark room, performance hall, dance studio, art room, sound studio and two band rooms.

We want to give young people the opportunity to:

• Develop their creative expression by experimenting and trying new activities

• Learn and develop new skills

• Participate in performance through theatre, dance and music

• Experience art from other cultures

• Work alongside professional artists

• Have fun and enjoy a range of art activities

How we do it...

Our youth workers run the youth club (Jesters) on site and the Bus Project in and around Bicester four nights a week.  They offer young people educational support and development that can include arts provision.  They also work with specific groups including disaffected young people, young people excluded from school, unemployed young people, young people from minority ethnic heritage, young offenders or those at risk of criminal activity.

The youth workers play an important role in consulting and engaging with young people in Bicester and a regular youth forum gives young people a chance to have their say in what happens at the centre.

The management team also runs a busy activities programme in addition to the youth club and the Bus Project.  The programme is guided by what young people want in addition to introducing them to new and innovative art forms. 

Professional artists run the sessions and where possible young people act as volunteer assistants in order to gain work experience. 

The centre is always open to approaches from young people wanting to develop their skills in a particular art form and from artists interested in delivering weekly or one-off workshops (see artists' link on What's On page). For more information please contact Melanie on le-ann@courtyd.com or 01869 602555

Who we are...

The Courtyard is managed by a team of 3 full time and 6 part time members of staff: