THE NATIONAL YOUTH AGENCY: Comment - Art in the right place

So this week (or last week by the time you read this) The NYA headed to Yorkshire to do its bit to promote youth work and youth services and persuade locally elected members to become youth champions in their communities.

We've done it this year with an arts theme - "put art at the heart of your community" - and invited councillors along to see video presentations highlighting the benefits of supporting youth arts.

Even the most cursory glance at the TV coverage of Glastonbury will demonstrate the importance of the creative arts to young people. When putting together the materials for The NYA session, I was again struck by the energy and creativity young people demonstrate when given the opportunity across the arts. In an ideal world, our councils would be backing youth arts simply because of the sheer bloody joy it can produce - but we all know that we also have to get over to potential funders that arts activity can make real contributions to communities through reducing street crime, improving academic performance, revitalising inner cities, providing jobs and economic activity and allowing people to express their opinions and engage in democratic structures. In short, they can play a vital role in promoting and securing community cohesion.