Kids

Roundhouse Studios
Age group: 13-25
Set up in 2000, the Roundhouse’s eight-week summer term programme offers 32 arts-based courses covering five creative areas, including performing arts, music, film, TV, radio and digital media. In addition, a schedule of special events include Network Night, a chance to share ideas with other artists, while weekly Base Sessions offer emerging young talent support and advice from creative industry professionals. More courses available, see website for details.
Cost: Regular membership is free; special membership is £10 per person or £15 per family per year and includes one free workshop/term and cheap tickets for Roundhouse performances and special events.
Roundhouse, Chalk Farm Road, London, NW1 8EH (0870 389 1846/www.roundhouse.org.uk/studios) Chalk Farm tube. Feature continues

Old Vic New Voices
Age group: 8-25
Similarly, the Old Vic provides mentoring and nurturing for new creative talent aiming for a career in theatre. The New Voices Club provides the chance for young writers, producers, actors and directors to meet like minded peers at a series of social events, masterclasses and workshops run year-round by industry professionals including the theatre’s artistic director and Hollywood veteran Kevin Spacey. See the Old Vic website to download the most recent programme of events.
Cost: From free, prices differ for each course, see the programme for further details.
The Old Vic, 103 The Cut, Waterloo Road, London, SE1 8NB (0870 060 6628/www.oldvictheatre.com/ovnv) Waterloo tube/rail.

National Gallery, Get Into Art!
Age group: 12-17
The National Gallery’s practical art workshops offer young adults a chance to develop a portfolio of art, learning from contemporary sculptors and painters and offers full use of the gallery’s studio space and equipment. No experience is required and all materials are provided. Workshop schedule varies by month in addition to social events, lectures, discussion groups and study days: check website for details.
Cost: Free but advance booking essential. To book call 0207 747 2894.
National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, London, WC2N 5DN (020 7747 2885/www.nationalgallery.org.uk) Charing Cross tube/rail.

Rough Trade East Music Workshops
Age group: 14-18
Home to Arcade Fire, Dirty Projectors and various other leftfield luminaries, indie record label Rough Trade offer a four-week urban and electronic music course on Saturday mornings at their flagship Rough Trade East store. Working with Youth Music, the course supports their Build A Band campaign which offers young musicians a performance opportunity at Glastonbury 2008.
Cost: Free but booking absolutely essential. Applications can be downloaded from www.buildaband.org/workshop.
Rough Trade East, Dray Walk, Old Truman Bewery, E1 6QL (020 7392 7790/www.roughtrade.com) Liverpool Street tube/rail.

National Portrait Gallery’s Young People’s Programme
Age group: 14-21
Practical music, photography, poetry, drawing and art workshops are led by well-known artists and aim to explore various aspects of portraiture, inspired by the gallery’s permanent collection or temporary exhibitions. Day-long Sunday Sessions are held on the first Sunday of the month while the free-to-join creative Youth Forum – a social group for budding artists – meets once a month on Thursday evenings. All events and workshops are free and run throughout the year. See website for a current programme.
Cost: Free; to book email youthbookings@npg.org.uk or call 020 7312 2483. To join the Youth Forum, contact Rachel Moss, Young People's Programmes Manager, at rmoss@npg.org.uk.
National Portrait Gallery, St Martin's Place, London, WC2H 0HE (020 7306 0055/www.npg.org.uk) Charing Cross tube/rail.

The Photographers’ Gallery Teen Talks
Age group: 14-19
Aimed at exploring the appreciation and interpretation of visual art, young critics in waiting are helped to research, develop and deliver a twenty-minute talk on a current exhibition at the gallery. Artists and gallery curators provide support, feedback and advice, offering opportunities to attend exhibition-related talks and private views. Work experience is also offered.
Cost: Participation is free, to take part email projects@photonet.org.uk, see website for dates of up and coming talks.
Photographers' Gallery, 5 & 8 Great Newport Street, London, WC2H 7HY (020 7831 1772/www.photonet.org.uk) Leicester Square tube.

Serpentine Gallery’s Drawing and Painting Course
Age group: 13-19
Recent workshops here include a two-day creative film course in which young participants collaborated with artists in experimenting with film and literature; and practical workshop exploring abstract approaches to painting and drawing in response to the gallery’s Maria Lassnig exhibition. Projects run throughout the year, check website for an up-to-date program.
Cost: All events are free, booking essential, contact Eleanor Farrington on 020 7298 1516 or eleanorf@serpentinegallery.org for further information.
Serpentine Gallery, Kensington Gardens, W2 3XA (020 7402 6075/www.serpentinegallery.org) South Kensington tube.

Tate Modern’s Raw Canvas
Age group: 15-23
A fun, activity-based youth initiative aimed at encouraging the appreciation and critique of contemporary art. Regular peer-led events run year round and include weekend and evening workshops, social events and holiday short courses run by artists, designers, curators and cultural critics. A broad knowledge of art is not essential.
Cost: All events are free, see website for 2008 events. To book call 020 7887 3959 or email education.bookings@tate.org.uk.
Tate Modern, Bankside, London, SE1 9TG (020 7887 8888/www.tate.org.uk) Southwark tube, Blackfriars tube/rail.

National Theatre
Age group: 15-19 (Entry Pass); 11-19 (NT Young Company)
The NT’s Entry Pass is a young person’s membership scheme that offers £5 tickets to most of the theatres shows in addition to free pre- and post-show talks and backstage tours. Plus, The NT Young Company provides training for aspiring writers and actors, auditions for the group are held in September – all applications are considered.
Cost: Free. Application forms and free workpacks for various shows are available on the theatre’s website
National Theatre, South Bank, London, SE1 9PX (020 7452 3400/www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/entrypass) Waterloo tube/rail.

Wigmore Hall
Ages: 15+
Designed to better young people’s access to classical music, Wigmore Hall run a series of day-long workshops throughout the year. Recent highlights include ‘Discover Your Voice’, where choral leader Gillian Dibden demonstrated how Karl Jenkins' work 'The Armed Man: a Mass for Peace' was influenced by a variety of musical forms, teaching excerpts which participants performed on stage at the end of the day.
Cost: From free, see website for details of up and coming events.
Wigmore Hall, 36 Wigmore Street, London, W1U 2BP (020 7935 2141/www.wigmore-hall.org.uk) Bond Street tube.

Finally, not free, but highly recommended:

Royal Court Young Writer’s Programme
Age group: 16-18 (Summer Theatre Project); 18-25 (Introduction to Playwriting)
Currently run by resident playwriting tutor Leo Butler, this 11-week evening course based at the theatre aims to encourage and support new writers of contemporary drama. Recent graduate and ambassador for the course, 21-year-old playwright Polly Stenham’s ‘That Face’ debuted at the Royal Court before receiving its West End transfer to the Duke of York Theatre. The week-long intensive Summer Theatre Project is available for younger writers and takes place in August.
Cost: Introduction to Playwriting: £50-£100; Summer Theatre Project £50.
Royal Court Theatre, Sloane Square, London, SW1W 8AS (020 7565 5000/www.royalcourttheatre.com) Sloane Square tube.