Captivate leads a range of opportunities through key headings:
To sign up for to become a member, you must be available for all dates listed above.
Please contact iya@inspireculture.org.uk to register interest and receive the sign-up form.
Inspire Youth Arts: Proto-Type Digital Group are Recruiting!
Are you into art, tech or both? Proto-Type is a group of young creatives (age 13-19) who explore where art and technology meet.
You are invited to join for 2025-2026! Membership is entirely FREE.
As a Proto-Type member, you will get to:
Create, experiment, and collaborate with other young artists. No experience needed—just bring your ideas and curiosity.
Get guidance from professional artist Bec Smith (Urban Projections)
Work in a real artist studio on the Welbeck Estate (with help available for transport)
Try out awesome tools and techniques like virtual reality, digital drawing, 3D modelling, and projection mapping
Be part of exciting cross-art projects with Inspire Youth Arts
Project Details:
Project 1: Virtual Reality World Building
Dates: Tuesday 28, Wednesday 29, Thursday 30 October 2025
Times: 10am-4pm
Where: Studio Urban Projections, located at the Harley Foundation, Welbeck (travel support available)
Project 2: Glitch Rituals
Dates: Tuesday 17, Wednesday 18, Thursday 19, Friday 20 Feburary 2026
Times: 10am-4pm
Where: Studio Urban Projections, located at the Harley Foundation, Welbeck (travel support available) EXCEPT FOR Friday 20 will be at The Old Library, Mansfield.
For more information about Proto-Type and their previous work, you can visit the website: proto-type.org.uk
Ashfield Creates is a new 3-year programme designed to transform how everyone who lives, works and studies in Ashfield gets to access and participate in arts and creative activities.
Ashfield Creates: We are excited to announce our partnership with Ashfield Creates, a dynamic new three-year cultural programme launched this week in Ashfield.
With a £1 million grant from Arts Council England, this initiative brings together various organisations in collaboration with Ashfield District Council. The goal? To enhance arts and creative opportunities across the region as part of the Ashfield Arts Partnership.
Ashfield Creates' mission is to increase the number of arts and creative opportunities for everyone living, working, and studying in Ashfield. Through this initiative, we aim to help local residents discover their creative talents, empower local artists to thrive, and unite our communities through the power of creativity like never before.
Vanessa Oxspring, Captivate Partnership Manager, said: "We see this as a pivotal time for CYP and schools; enriching young people's creative lives by experiencing creativity and culture on their doorstep. We are excited about this investment which will boost our work in schools and educational settings with arts and culture".
We are thrilled to announce that we have secured Arts Council funding to support Captivate on its next two-year journey.
This is truly excellent news and a testament to the quality and value of the work we are doing. Captivate will continue to focus on the areas of Mansfield and Ashfield and develop its programme of partner-led activities for children inside and outside of schools. We are committed to driving our key development areas including research projects, Artsmark and Arts Award support at schools, heritage learning, Nottinghamshire schools membership, creative curriculum development, talent recognition and youth, voice and employability through 2024-26.
NTU Takeover Project Evaluation Report
NTU's latest Takeover Project Evaluation Report examines the impact of our 24-month arts and creative volunteering programme targeting young people aged 14-24 in Mansfield and Ashfield. The programme, led by Captivate and various partners, provided arts and cultural training to cohorts over the course of 10 weeks, and culminated with their final project, DepARTment Festival in March 2024.
NTU evaluated eight diverse cohorts using pre- and post-project surveys and interviews with artists, teachers, and project leaders. The resulting report showcases Takeover's positive impact on youth skills and confidence while also highlighting challenges related to reduced youth services and diverse educational contexts. Explore the full findings here.