Youth festival kicks off in Leeds

Now in its nineteenth year the Breeze Arts Festival boasts 30 events over eight days.

The festival for 11-19 year olds offers young people across the city a platform to showcase their talents.

This year organisers have worked with organisations such as Phoenix Dance, Chapel FM, Pyramid of Arts, Skippko and First Floor.

Most of the events are free or have a Breezecard discount and take place across the city: in libraries, Trinity Shopping Centre, West Yorkshire Playhouse, Northern School of Contemporary Dance and Leeds Town Hall.

Leeds Council Leader Councillor Judith Blake said: “Breeze Arts Festival continues to offer a huge range of opportunities for young people to get involved in the arts, and I’m proud to support the festival. Breeze Arts Festival works with a lot of different partner organisations who put in a lot of hard work to create the excellent range of activities and events.”

A group of young people, aged between 11 and 16 years old, have helped the festival team plan and manage the event. They have chosen projects and performances, been involved in designing the posters and marketing.

This year they have organised their own event, Breeze Live at Trinity Leeds, which will showcase some of the best young performers from the city.

Activities on offer include creative workshops in libraries, arts exhibitions by young people, a radio festival, film screenings and live performances.

For the first time this year, the festival is hosting Under the Owls with East Street Arts and Leeds Beckett University - a free live music and arts event for teenagers in Millennium Square.