Empowering the next generation
Participate
While Tonic knows that change has to come from the top, we also see the importance of fostering change at grass roots level. Since 2018 we have delivered Participate, an extensive programme for young people who are training for careers in the performing arts.
Through a series of workshop-style sessions, we support them to develop resilience, judgement, empathy and respect for one another. We also work with their teachers, enabling them to reflect on and respond to the values and behaviours that are increasingly shaping students’ expectations of their training and careers.
Initially prompted by the issues in the performing arts industries that the #MeToo movement highlighted, Participate was Tonic’s practical response. We wanted to disrupt patterns which encouraged young people to accept unhealthy power dynamics as the inevitable price of a career in the arts and the initial focus of Participate was heavily focused in this area.
Whilst we still deliver this core work on supporting students to identify acceptable vs unacceptable uses of power and associated topics such as consent and forming respectful working relationships, the focus of Participate has expanded. It now encompasses a wide range of workshops designed to provide students with space in their busy timetables to reflect on their personal, professional and interpersonal development. We aim to create bold spaces, where students can consider through a range of lenses “What do we need to do our best work?”
In all of our sessions, participants have the opportunity to increase their introspective skills whilst also building empathy and connection with their peers. All sessions are designed and delivered in a way that is tailor made for performing arts students; providing space and learning that is pragmatic, empowering, and optimistic.
The programme for teaching and administrative staff creates space for reflection, as well as being future-focused, including the provision of a range of useful tools and framing of ideas and concepts which participants can integrate into their practice.
“After the sessions, I feel I have gained the tools to navigate my way through difficult situations in the industry. Being able to communicate assertively and stand by my morals is absolutely necessary practice not just for work, but life.”
Third-year Acting Student
“I think this was really useful for us all to take stock and look at the way we teach and how that can affect the students not only whilst in our lessons but also for the rest of their lives.”
Faculty Member