Young Bristol Artists prepare for European Youth Festival

July 22 2006 will be the end of 3 years of hard work by young people from all over Europe, with the presentation of their self organised European Young Expressions Festival, a day celebrating youth culture and diversity from 12 countries.

The first of its kind, the "EYE" Festival is an initiative created by the European Forum for Young Citizens, an organisation developed by the Eurocities Culture Forum. The forum is a network of core European cities working together to develop cultural policy across Europe, bringing together 40 young musicians, theatrical and fine artists, dancers, designers and entrepreneurs, from over 24 cities in 12 countries, to expand governmental policies on youth culture across Europe.

In July, 9 young artists from Bristol will be flying to Düsseldorf, Germany to perform to other selected young artists from different countries and the German public, thanks to funding and support from Bristol City Council's Culture Department.

This includes 21 year old singer/song writer Jade Green, hip hop duo G.I. and Lil Bear, 17 year old 4 iece rock band Mac n Ripp and classical/soul singer Rachael Coulson, aged 21. Rachael has been a member of the Forum for Young Citizens since 2004, when she was chosen to represent Bristol at its 2nd conference in Norway due to her work with young people at Studio 7.

She says: "The "EYE" Festival is a really exiting opportunity for young artists in Bristol; performing to an audience that will have come from as far as the Czech Republic and Romania and showcasing their music to other young artists who have the same vision and dream! I can't wait to see our Festival of ideas come together!"

Mijanou Blech, director of Remix, the Bristol youth music action zone, says:

'The forum for Young Citizens has worked hard to make this project a reality. It was important that the Eurocities Culture forum was not just paying lip service to the ideas of young people. This is a real example of policy makers responding to specific request by young people to show their potential as creative citizens, whilst bridging gaps and promoting community cohesion on a European basis."