One: Introduction and Overview of Masculinities

Session One of the Creative Youth Practices Professional Development Series

Heart of Glass in partnership with Artist and Educator, Fiona Whelan, Rialto Youth Project and Create invites you to this one-day professional development opportunity for practitioners interested in making socially engaged art and engaging in creative projects with boys and young men using an art and youth work approach.

Session One: Introduction and Overview of Masculinities

In this session Professor Debbie Ging and Dr. Craig Haslop will provide an overview and introduction to critical research in masculinities, offering insights into their work in this field.

Dannielle McKenna (Rialto Youth Project) and Aaron Sunderland Carey (Artist and Youth Worker) will introduce Boys in the Making, a dynamic place-based creative programme for boys and young men, and provide an overview of its creative and youth work methodology, sharing insights into the themes emerging and explored through this evolving work with young boys and men.

The day will also include group discussion, connection, and opportunities for reflection more broadly on creative processes and projects, youth engagement processes, and youth community development working practices relevant to the times we live in.

We will also be joined by Dr. Ciaran Smyth as our Listener-in-Residence, who will capture reflections throughout the day.

Lunch and refreshments will be provided.

For more information about this session of the Creative Youth Practices Professional Development Series contact info@heartofglass.org.uk

Tickets

We have limited spaces available, and we are prioritising artists who work with young people (especially boys and young men) from across the Liverpool City Region, youth workers and those who work with young people, as well as creative practitioners and those with an interest in developing creative projects with young people and/or an interest in learning more about masculinities.This includes but is not limited to artists, youth workers, play workers, teachers and producers.

We’re particularly keen to support people with an interest in collaborative, reflective and experimental practice in arts and youth work.

As space is limited, if you book a ticket and are no longer able to attend, please let us know and request a refund so we can offer the space to those on our waitlist.

Bursary

We are offering a limited number of £250 bursaries for artists, freelancers, independent producers, community practitioners and curators to support attendance of these sessions. Bursaries may be used to contribute towards the cost of travel, accommodation, subsistence, childcare and/or access costs.

All artists, freelancers, independent producers and curators are eligible to apply. Priority will be given to those who would otherwise be unable to attend. Those wishing to apply for a bursary to support their attendance should send the following information by email to info@heartofglass.org.uk, marking queries as 'CYPOne / Bursary' by Friday 15th May :

• Amount applied for in £
• Breakdown of cost

If you are applying for a bursary, please contact us before purchasing your ticket.

Venue

Merseyside Youth Association (MYA) Our Place, Longview Drive, Huyton, Liverpool, L36 6EG

Access

Heart of Glass commits to supporting attendees' access requirements. Please let us know in advance of your access needs

• The building is wheelchair accessible.
• Accessible toilets are available.
• A BSL interpreter can be made available upon request.

If you'd like to discuss your access needs, please get in touch: info@heartofglass.org.uk

Travel

Parking: Onsite at Volair Huyton (Knowsley Leisure & Culture Park) and MYA Our Place

Bus stop just outside (89 / 9 bus - Hurst Park Drive)

Closest Train station: Huyton - approx 15 min bus journey / 25-30 minute walk

Creative Youth Practices Professional Development Series

This session is one of three in the Creative Youth Practices Professional Development Series.
You are welcome to attend one or more of these sessions taking place in Huyton, Merseyside on the following dates:

Session One: Thursday 21st May- Creative Youth Practices: Introduction and Overview of Masculinities

Session Two: Thursday 4th June - Creative Youth Practices: Introduction and Overview of the practice of Listening

Session Three: Thursday 18th June- Creative Youth Practices: Introduction and Overview of Collaborative Practice

See all three sessions here.

Creative Youth Practices Professional Devlopment Series has been developed by Fiona Whelan (Artist, Writer and Educator), Dannielle McKnna (Rialto Youth Project) Heart of Glass and Create as part of an international learning and exchange residency, supported by Arts Council of Ireland through the International Residency Initiatives Scheme, 2026. It is part of This Place, This Stage an Arts Council England - supported Place Partnership

This Professional Development series has been informed by Boys in the Making, developed by Fiona Whelan and Railto Youth Project, as part of the What Does He Need? project - a collaboration between Fiona Whelan, Riato Youth Project and Brokentalkers. whatdoesheneed.com

Images: Boys in the Making, Fiona Whelan, Rialto Youth Project and collaborators, the NCAD Gallery Dublin, 2025. Photos by Evanna Devine