Advocacy Framework
Underpinning our activity are clear and robust objectives and outcomes for all Scotland's children. Read on for more information on our Advocacy Plan Framework and the audiences we seek to connect with.
Our Objectives
Improved awareness, vision, and strategy for developing children and young people’s access to arts and cultural experiences.
The role of arts, culture and creativity within learning and educational settings is recognised as vital and supported accordingly.
Increased access and
participation in arts and cultural experiences for children and young people.
Our Targeted Outcomes
We believe that all of Scotland's children and young people should have access to enriching artistic experiences. We champion this belief and advance our objectives by targeting the following outcomes:

Short Term:
- Scotland’s children, young people and their parents, carers and leaders have increased awareness and expectation about their right to access arts which are inclusive, diverse, and transformative.
- Key stakeholders have increased awareness of the inclusive, diverse, and transformative benefits of youth arts participation.
- CYAA members reflect upon our own work and what we can do better to address children and young people’s inability to access their right to arts which are inclusive, diverse, and transformative.

Medium to Long-Term
- A new Youth Arts Strategy is outlined for Scotland, with a clear action plan and costings.
- Cross-sector working helps develop youth arts access and impact.
- The role of arts, culture and creativity is embedded within a refreshed curriculum for Scotland’s schools and teacher education as well as local authority improvement plans.
- Increased roles, funding and initiatives which support collaboration between cultural, learning and education organisations.
- Increased funding for youth arts organisations at a local and national level.
- Increased activities offered by Scotland’s youth arts organisations.
- More children and young people access arts and cultural experiences.

Our Advocacy Audiences
To achieve our objectives we seek to make connections with a diverse range of audiences across Scotland. Through establishing strong working relationships, requesting support, informing and raising awareness, CYAA increases its knowledge and builds a robust platform to share our message. Without the support of this community, our work would not be possible.
Our audiences include:
National and Local Government:
Children, Young People, the Third and Arts Sectors:
Parents, carers, leaders, allies, and supporters.
National and Local Government:
Politicians, Councillors, and government officials involved in developing and implementing policy.
Education:
Education:
Lead staff and key decision makers in schools, local authorities, and national bodies (including curriculum reform).
Children, Young People, the Third and Arts Sectors:
Parents, carers, leaders, allies, and supporters.
Image credits:
Outcomes images: Top left National Festival of Youth Theatre - Ayr Gaiety Youth Theatre - Fri 1 July 2022 - YTAS c. Andy Catlin. Middle left National Festival of Youth Theatre - Theatre Alliance - Sun 3 July 2022 - YTAS c. Andy Catlin Bottom left Work Title: Amplify development weekend costume rehearsal Project: Amplify c. Josie Young. Right image Image courtesy of YDance. Audience image: Children from Forthview Primary taking part in Creative Encounters project c. Kat Gollock.
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