Young, Gifted and Manc: Inspiring Creativity in Manchester’s Young People

As art teachers, we’re always looking for ways to inspire our students, help them find their creative voice, and connect classroom learning to the wider world. For those teaching in the Manchester area, Samosa Media’s Young, Gifted and Manc film workshops are an exciting example of how this can be done.

Samosa Media is a BAME-led arts and education charity that has spent the past eight years supporting young people across Manchester through creative workshops, mentoring, and media projects. Their work is about much more than learning technical skills; it’s about helping students develop confidence, teamwork, communication, and the ability to tell their own stories.

This summer, 20 young people took part in the Young, Gifted and Manc workshops over three weeks. The sessions were held across South Manchester at partner venues including the British Muslim Heritage Centre, the NIA Centre, Powerhouse Youth Centre, Contact Theatre, and Xaverian College. Students engaged in hands-on filmmaking, study sessions on arts, media, culture, and history, and mentoring from professionals in the creative industries.

One of the most powerful aspects of the project was that the students were in charge of the creative process. They chose the subjects, themes, and stories they wanted to explore, giving them ownership of their work. The resulting films reflect not only their technical skills but also their experiences, perspectives, and voices. A highlights film of the project captures the energy, collaboration, and creativity that filled those three weeks.

Participant feedback shows just how transformative the workshops can be:

“The best part has honestly been the people. Connecting with others who are just as creative and passionate as me, but come from all kinds of different backgrounds, has been inspiring. I’ve met people I probably wouldn’t have crossed paths with otherwise, and it’s made me more open-minded and excited about the creative industry. Also, working hands-on with professional equipment has been such a good experience—it’s one thing to learn theory, but actually doing it makes everything click.”

Samosa Media’s work doesn’t stop at workshops. Over the past eight years, they’ve built a catalogue of educational resources spanning film, media, journalism, digital skills, South Asian and British Asian history, English, PHSE, and drama. These resources can be used in schools to bring new perspectives, storytelling opportunities, and practical projects into lessons, helping students explore identity, heritage, and social inclusion.

Building on this work, Samosa Media has recently partnered with the WEA to develop projects exploring British Asian history and cultural heritage, bringing creative learning to even more young people across Manchester and other UK cities.

Projects like Young, Gifted and Manc show how creative learning can have a real impact on young people. Students gain technical skills, yes, but they also grow in confidence, learn to collaborate effectively, and develop leadership and problem-solving abilities. They experience first-hand how ideas move from concept to production, and they see how their voices can contribute to larger conversations in the arts and media.

For art teachers, there’s much to take inspiration from here. You can use similar approaches in your classroom: give students ownership of projects, encourage them to explore personal or community stories, and integrate digital and practical skills alongside traditional art techniques. Samosa Media’s workshops are a reminder that when young people are trusted to lead creatively, the results can be remarkable.

If you’re curious about bringing this kind of experience to your students, Samosa Media is open to supporting schools in exploring ideas. Even just seeing the work they’ve produced can spark ideas for your own classroom projects, whether that’s short films, multimedia storytelling, or arts projects exploring identity and heritage.

Ultimately, the Young, Gifted and Manc workshops are about more than filmmaking—they’re about creating opportunities, nurturing confidence, and giving young people a platform to tell their stories. As art teachers, taking inspiration from initiatives like this can help us make our classrooms spaces where creativity, collaboration, and self-expression truly flourish.