Challenging the youth policy imperative: engaging young people through the arts

Challenging the youth policy imperative: engaging young people through the arts

This paper challenges the orientations and assumptions underpinning policies for disadvantaged young people (DYP) in Australia. We argue that policy interventions for young people generally exhibit a binary divide, some policies fostering leadership and creative endeavours targeted on 'high-fun...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of youth studies Vol. 12; no. 2; pp. 209 - 225
Main Authors: de Roeper, Julia, Savelsberg, Harry J.
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 01-04-2009
Routledge
Subjects:
Adolescents
Art Education
Art Works
Arts
At Risk Persons
Attitudes
Australia
Cultural Activities
Cultural Relevance
Developmental Programs
Disadvantaged Youth
exclusion
Foreign Countries
Government policy
Holistic Approach
Humanities
Leadership
Lifestyle
policy
Public Policy
Social Constructionism
Social exclusion
Social Policy
transition
Youth
Youth Culture
Youth policy
Youth Programs
Australia
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Summary:This paper challenges the orientations and assumptions underpinning policies for disadvantaged young people (DYP) in Australia. We argue that policy interventions for young people generally exhibit a binary divide, some policies fostering leadership and creative endeavours targeted on 'high-functioning' young people, especially within educational and arts milieus, while other policies, focusing on DYP, take a remedial orientation. The basis for this binary divide is, we argue, flawed social constructions of young people, constructions that pathologise or privilege behaviours, attitudes and lifestyles. The consequences for DYP are that remedial policies, designed to get and keep young people 'on track', are often ignoring deeper developmental needs. Using recent research findings from arts programmes for young people, the paper argues for a broader policy orientation, including developmental needs, to strengthen remedial policies and programmes and open the potential for pathways to resilience.
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ISSN:1367-6261
1469-9680
DOI:10.1080/13676260802672820