INVITATION: 10 October 2011 – Expert Panel on informal learning in the creative sector Venue: Interchange Studios, Hampstead Town Hall Centre213 Haverstock Hill, London NW3 4QP, United Kingdom – phone 020 7692 5800Time: 9:00am – 10:45am – followed by a showcase performance by trainees from recent WAC and Collage Programmes  We would like to ask you to join us to help shape the future of informal learning in London. You will be part of an expert panel helping to establish how Collage Arts and WAC Performing Arts and Media College and other similar organisation can become more central to the mainstream commissioning of programmes for young people. We are keen to explore new models of partnerships working with the formal education system and/or the private sector agencies delivering young people’s services. Finally we would like to share with you our work on quality assurance and our most recent research. Then we wish to identify how we can build on this to be recognised as a viable mainstream option for reengaging young people who are not in education, employment or training. The recent riots have led to a renewed debate about young people. At its most negative this has resulted in their demonization – but it has also started a process of questioning what investment and interventions could make a difference. Collage Arts and WAC Performing Arts and Media College have over 60 years experience of developing programmes using creative learning to reengage young people into mainstream education, employment or creative entrepreneurship. We have just completed a programme called Euro-Aspire, which locates the validation of creative informal learning within the European Qualifications Framework. Simultaneous to this panel in London, similar events will be happening in Denmark, Italy, Netherlands and Spain. The outcome of these discussions will shape our application for to a European lifelong learning fund for audio visual cultural education. Work has also nearly finished LSIS programmes. There is a short summary of these programmes below.  We want to talk openly and honestly and explore new ways of working and we believe we will have a better discussion if you join us...  

Manoj Ambasna Celia Greenwood Rick ParkesCEO Collage Arts CEO WAC Performing Arts and Media College Rinova Limited 

PS We will be serving breakfast snacks at the beginning of the panel and afterwards we will be serving coffee and sharing with you a short showcase of work by our trainees.  RSVP Preeti Dasgupta, preeti@collage-arts.org or 020 8829 1313