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Virginia Haworth-Galt explores the complications of networking in the youth arts sector.

Take the simple word ?network?: it can be quite confusing as a verb and just as puzzling as a noun. What is a network, how do we define one? My network might be your forum, and your network might be someone else?s group. It might be useful in the arts to have a glossary of this type of word (you know the ones: network, agency, partnership? ) to avoid confusion and the occasional disappointment.

Research into youth arts provision highlighted the confusion over what a network is. Respondents to a survey were asked to rate the sector?s need for a regional network along with eight other ?areas for action?. The network came at the bottom of the table. But the same respondents had also clearly identified that the lack of a youth arts infrastructure was a major gap in youth arts provision. But if a network is perceived as a talking shop, perhaps with the occasional, rambling, dialogue-based e-bulletin, it is not going to be ranked above practical provision like training and funded posts. A tooled-up network, which actually provides an infrastructure, is an entirely different proposition. The trouble with youth arts is that we cut across so many art forms and involve so many different practitioners and professionals that the definitive network has not yet existed.

To add to the confusion, the term ?networking? can cover a wide spectrum of possibilities, from the empowering to the tedious, with the necessary somewhere in the middle. We can actively go out to ?network?, be highly proactive about it, and allow ourselves the chance to walk in other worlds. Alternatively, we can stick in our comfort zones, in a positive way, and cement and strengthen our partnerships. A sector needs regular networking opportunities to share information, develop and grow. This helps ensure that, in the often isolated youth arts sector, we are in the know and making the most of our precious resources. You might find the killer contact, the one person who holds the missing piece of your jigsaw or someone who triggers a creative spark.

The truth is that not all programmed networking sessions, at conferences or seminars, are as successful as others. Sometimes you might be faced with a roomful of people who seem to have such a tenuous connection with the work that you do that you don?t really want to network with them. You might turn into a type of manic speed-dater, cruising the room at warp-speed, seeking out at least one good contact.

The youth arts sector comprises a disparate bunch of artists, arts organisations, voluntary and statutory youth workers, education professionals, health workers, media organisations, and many others. For many of these, youth arts is just one of the things they do and often not their primary focus. In order for the sector to exist we need to build and maintain healthy partnerships that cut across all parts. To do this we need those strong, effective networks and those vital networking opportunities.

Artswork is currently shaping up ENYAN (the English National Youth Arts Network), which will go live later this year. ENYAN is a ?network of networks? and will not attempt to take over or replace any of the existing youth arts networks. It will, instead, be a tooled-up network offering an infrastructure for the youth arts sector. The website will signpost members to other networks in their region or those representing specific artforms. For areas currently lacking in networks, ENYAN will help create and support them. The website will provide information on organisations, venues and facilities, publications and resources and training opportunities. ENYAN will also provide training opportunities, seminars and events.

ENYAN is being designed to match the nine English regions and currently national and regional advisory groups are being recruited. ENYAN will also strive to create good links with the youth arts networks of the other nation states.

Artswork is an independent youth arts development agency.
e: virginia@artswork.demon.co.uk;
w: http://www.artswork.org.uk