Creating with Responsibility

This initiative promises to benefit young creative entrepreneurs throughout the UK with a total of 45 workshops, the first of which began as a pilot at NYT’s acclaimed Creative Production House in September 2024. Each session is carefully designed in line with Microsoft’s responsible AI principles, ensuring participants gain access to cutting-edge technologies while being inspired to develop original creative outputs.

Workshops will cover an array of topics, including the integration of AI in film and TV production, making storytelling more inclusive and accessible, and combining AI with emerging extended reality (XR) technologies. So far, participants have included budding performers, lighting and sound designers, filmmakers, and gaming enthusiasts.

Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with over 80% of pilot participants expressing increased confidence in their use of new technologies thanks to the workshops. One enthusiastic participant remarked, "I devised in a way I’ve never devised before. It was mind-blowing, and the insights into the tech I had never used made digital storytelling feel much more accessible."

A Dynamic Learning Experience

Expertise at the workshops will come from leading creative technologists, motion capture performers, and industry professionals from film, theatre, and multimedia backgrounds. This high-caliber instruction is made possible by Microsoft, the official partner for the Digital Accelerator programme.

Participants will have opportunities to explore various innovative tools, such as Microsoft 365 Copilot, Augmented Reality, and state-of-the-art Virtual Production techniques widely used in modern storytelling across TV, film, and games. These resources are aimed at empowering young creatives to enhance their artistic processes and embark on groundbreaking digital projects.

Transformative Initiatives in Storytelling

The Digital Accelerator joins a suite of innovative projects from National Youth Theatre focused on modernizing live storytelling. Recent initiatives have included virtual reality adaptations of plays, acting courses for video games, and live-streaming events that bridge gaming and live performance.

A survey conducted in 2024 revealed that a staggering 90% of young creatives at NYT expressed interest in projects involving gaming, while half engage with gaming weekly. Furthermore, 85% reported watching gaming live-streams, highlighting a strong intersection between digital creativity and storytelling.

Embracing the Future of Creation

Paul Roseby OBE, CEO and Artistic Director of National Youth Theatre, expressed enthusiasm for this initiative, saying, "We are eager to invite young creatives from across the UK to join us in discovering the future of storytelling. These free workshops are an opportunity to learn new skills that will elevate your storytelling, enabling your responses to new technological challenges."

Hugh Milward, Head of Corporate, External and Legal Affairs at Microsoft UK, added, "Generative AI is transforming how artists and creative communities conceive new ideas and streamline their creative processes. We are dedicated to enabling individuals throughout the UK to harness AI to its fullest potential and are eager to witness how the talented participants of NYT will leverage this technology to elevate their artistic visions."

This groundbreaking initiative bridges the gap between technology and creativity, equipping the next generation of artists with the essential tools for a future rich in innovative storytelling. Don't miss your chance to be part of this artistic revolution!