The Zone by Zest Theatre and AirClad is asking young people to join them at locations across Lincoln for a summer packed full of fun…
The Zone offers free activities, great giveaways, exclusive events and a welcoming vibe in a space that has been made just for young people from the ideas of young people. The Zone has been created following conversations between local arts organisation, Zest Theatre and young people in response to the national problem of a lack of places where young people can go and be themselves.
The Zone, a touring, popup youth space features a bespoke trailer creating an indoor space along with outdoor decking and vibrant, inflatable structures which can all easily be packed down and moved to the next location. Staffed by trained youth workers who will run a vibrant and exciting program of events across the summer, everything from the design, branding and activities has been created with feedback from young people.
Artistic Director at Zest Theatre, Toby Ealden:
“When asked what they wanted from their city, we heard a lot of vision and hope for change as well as a lot of frustration. One of the key themes that arose was the chronic lack of space for young people in our city, with young people feeling that there was anywhere for them outside of home and school to exist, let alone thrive. It was upsetting that young people in my hometown felt like that and I knew that Zest should do something about it, The Zone is our response.”
Established in 2007, Zest exists to make space for young people to be heard, using creativity to amplify their voices through theatre and cultural experiences for theatres, festivals, public spaces, schools, and digital platforms. Their award-winning work has been described as ‘unpretentious’ (The Stage) and ‘essential’ (The Guardian) with both their national and regional productions and installations actively placing the audience right at the heart of the story.
Now recognised as an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation, Zest has developed the Zone in collaboration with Airclad & Inflate The Zone is Funded by Million Hours Fund from the Department of Culture Media and Sport & The National Lottery Community Foundation, and Lincolnshire Co-Op with support from Lincoln Arts Centre, The Lincolnite, MyLocal Lincolnshire and City of Lincoln Council through Historic England’s High Streets Heritage Action Zone Cultural Programme.
“We’re working closely with young people across Lincoln to finalise the full range of activities that the Zone will offer, but we’ve already had some really exciting ideas come through” continues Toby. “From silent discos to crafting areas and even performance spaces. The key thing that has come across is that young people want somewhere to create, chill and just be themselves.”
The mobile nature of The Zone makes it easy to pack up and relocate to exactly where it is needed meaning that it can be easily set up within communities that can often feel overlooked. The temporary nature of The Zone also means that it’s an idea that, subject to funding, it can easily be adopted and installed within multiple areas of the UK at any one time, filling the very real need for spaces where young people can come together but for much less than a traditional youth club.
“Zest is incredibly excited to develop this initiative for the youth of Lincoln and, should the project prove successful, it would be great to see the idea adopted in other locations across the country so that more young people are given a space to call their own. Public services should exist to enable everybody across the community to thrive, not just survive, that’s why we really hope that this initiative in Lincoln can kick start a new way of thinking about what and how we provide spaces for young people to flourish and thrive.” Continued Toby.
To be the first to experience The Zone, get access to amazing giveaways and exclusive events and summer surprises, visit www.zesttheatre.com/thezone
