IT'S TIME TO INTERACT
IT'S TIME TO INTERACT!
The Millennium Forum today announced details of the brand new programme for its upcoming InterAct Youth Arts Festival which takes place this July. The award-winning festival will once again this year extend across numerous locations in the North West region with workshops and events being held in YMCA Drumahoe, Culmore Community Centre and, of course, the Millennium Forum. And it’s all FREE!
Back for its 17th year, the festival is brought to you by the Millennium Forum and its fantastic Youth Forum who have helped lead and inform all the countless workshops that are on offer.
This year there is something for everyone aged 12 to 21; whether you are an art/craft enthusiast, drama queen, budding DJ, stage combat fanatic or if you love to sing and dance your heart out, there are lots of hands-on workshops all led by professional facilitators to help ensure you learn new skills and, most importantly, have fun! All workshops are free and accessible to attend.
Mags Anderson, Education and Outreach Officer of the Millennium Forum is looking forward to a jam-packed festival. She said:
“I really hope everyone enjoys this year’s festival. InterAct keeps developing year on year and we are excited to be going on tour again this year, offering workshops and classes to the local community. The festival is such a great opportunity for young people to get involved in. This year, we have lots of wonderful workshops to challenge your creativity, culminating in one big showcase on the Millennium Forum stage where family and friends can witness all the hard work put in during the festival – and, judging on previous years, this will definitely be a very special evening’s showcase! Also this year, there will be a Masterclass element of the festival which will offer older teens a hands-on opportunity to tech and stage-manage a live event.”
She added:
“We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our partners, facilitators and our funders, Derry and Strabane District Council, Arts Council NI, who help make this festival a reality.”
Star of Derry Girls, Jamie-Lee O’ Donnell, who is also the Youth Patron of the Millennium Forum, added:
“This fully inclusive festival provides a brilliant opportunity to access the best of the arts that Derry has to offer (all for free). Well done Youth Forum for another class InterAct festival!”
Youth Forum member and Festival Assistant, Shannon Peake, encourages all young people to get involved.
“Everyone from the Youth Forum has learnt so much organising this festival and we have all gained new skills. It has really helped my confidence and the best part is making new friendships and watching the festival come to life. Come along. Try something new. You won’t be disappointed!”
The InterAct festival kicks off on 7th July at YMCA Drumahoe, Culmore Community Centre and the Millennium Forum and continues until Friday 18th July. Throughout the festival, there will be support from the NOW group who will volunteer at the festival again, this year. NOW Group is a social enterprise organisation who support those who are neurodiverse, have hidden disabilities and/or learning support needs. Employment Officers all over Northern Ireland work under SkillSET to support individuals with direct support into employment, training, and education. They also have an in-house training team who facilitate training OCN courses and some soft skills as well as a Family Support Service and Community Services based in Belfast, Omagh and Enniskillen.
Interact 2025 workshops are now open for booking. To book, telephone the Forum Box Office on 02871 264455 or visit www.millenniumfourm.co.uk. Please note, a refundable £5.00 booking fee is required to secure all bookings; this will be fully refunded after all workshops/showcases are attended. For further information, contact Magsc@millenniumforum.co.uk. The Interact Festival is proudly supported by Derry City & Strabane District Council, Arts & Business NI and Budget Energy.
ENDS
Pictured at the recent launch of the Millennium Forum’s Interact Youth Arts Festival are: Karen Sullivan, Business Development Officer (Millennium Forum), Luke Cooper (Culmore Community Partnership), Karl Bradley, Marketing Executive (Budget Energy), Mayor of Derry/Strabane Cllr Ruairi McHugh, Catriona and Catherine Coyle – (YMCA Drumahoe), Mags Anderson, Education Officer/Festival Director (Millennium Forum), Eimear and Kayla (Youth Forum members)