RicNic is a youth arts charity catering specifically for young people. Set up by teenagers as a holiday project in 2004, what began as a small group has slowly grown to a reputed charity working with approximately 1000 young people each year. During the pandemic, we refocused our programming to ensure that over 85% of our work targeted young people who had limited access to cultural activities and relocated our registered office to Walsall, West Midlands. RicNic now offers a core programme catering for ages 5-25 and offering a range of opportunities for children and young people to take part in high-quality, youth-led activities. RicNic’s programme now features four main strands • Own The Stage – a digital resource and performance project for ages 7-13, encouraging children to explore and celebrate their creativity by developing their own arts showcases. • Engage – a programme which uses theatre skills to support 14-19 year olds to develop their confidence and key skills ahead of transition to college, university or employment. • RicNic Productions – an annual series of youth-led theatre productions, which are produced, marketed, directed and performed by young people aged 16-22. • RicNic Commissions – a mentoring programme for aspiring writers, composers and directors, aged 16-25; supporting them to create new pieces of theatre and showcase them in their local community.
Since April 2024, RicNic has delivered free after-school clubs and holiday programmes as part of its RicNic Foundry programme based at Manor Farm Community Centre, Rushall.
