The Courtyard Youth Arts Centre
Launton Road
Bicester
Oxfordshire
OX26 6DJ
Tel: 01869 602555
Fax: 01869 602556
E-Mail jane.dyson@oxfordshire.gov.uk
Find directions using MultiMap
Parking
Parking is available at the pay & display car park on Victoria Road at the back of the centre (see Multimap link).
Parking is free after 6pm.
Click here for directions: also available in printable format.
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. For more information please contact Jane on jane.dyson@oxfordshire.gov.uk or 01869 602555.
Reception is open Monday- Friday 9am-1pm
Staff at the Courtyard:
Polly Foster - Arts Manager
Jane Dyson - Centre Administrator
Marie Jagg - Centre Cleaner
Colin Pickup - Site Supervisor
Jeremy Leggett - Senior Youth Support Worker
Pippa Martin - Bicester Arts Officer, Cherwell District Council
Jill Mair - Administrative Officer, IYSS
Claire Blackburn - Youth Worker
Yvonne Cooney - Youth Worker
Claire Still - Assistant Youth Support Worker, Arts
Francesca Heffernan - Decision Making and Young People Worker
Mick Brittain - Youth Worker, Bus Project
Peter Foster - Youth Support Worker, Bus Project
Peter Byfield - Youth Support Worker, Bus Project
Gaynor-Sophie Johnson - Youth Support Worker, Bus Project
Julia Waring - Youth Support Worker, Bus Project
And a team of wonderful volunteers
The Courtyard Youth Arts Centre is supported by:
Bicester Town Council |
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Oxfordshire Youth Service |
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