A youth-led platform empowering young people to connect with diverse art forms.
Respect & Dignity Arts fosters the creation of high-quality, inspiring content that uplifts and motivates. Their innovative creative programmes that allow young people to perceive the world in new ways, build connections and further develop their sense of curiosity, adventure and imagination.
A Passion Turned Purpose
Respect and Dignity Arts was founded by Waqar Ahmed, a creative producer, facilitator and senior leader with over 20 years’ experience in the education sector, who has been responsible for developing innovative creative platforms that allow young people and the wider community, to access the arts and transformative creative content.
This work has been recognised at regional, national and at international level with the organisation recently shortlisted for the Norther Cultural Education Awards 2024.
“Respect & Dignity Arts believe in the transformative impact of the arts and its ability to bring about positive change. We support, in particular, young people from South Asian, Black and working-class backgrounds to enter spaces that are usually reserved for the cultural elites.
We value young people as artistic producers and provide a creative platform that allows them to contribute to the cultural landscape on their own terms. Using arts and creativity as a vehicle for young people to be heard, seen and lead.”
Waqar Ahmed, Creative Director - Respect & Dignity Arts
R&D Creative Writers
R&D Creative Writers is the flagship creative writing, spoken word and performance group. Delivered in partnership with Young Identity, providing literature workshops across East Lancashire and beyond; linking young people to creative practitioners in order to nurture their craft, build confidence and create empowering content.
To date, the group has produced a total of three touring spoken word anthologies: ‘Those from Distant Lands’, ‘The Art of Gratitude’ and ‘Beautiful by Design’. They have also undertaken a national tour, including performing in Manchester. Burnley, Preston and Cambridge and more, connecting audiences up and down the country.
See below the various projects and themes the R&D Creative Writers have been explored.
Beautiful by Design
2024
The project resulted in a short film and anthology launched with a poetry performance to audiences across East Lancashire at Landmark Burnley, Burnley Words Festival, Blackburn Central Library and Hills Road College.
‘The Collectives’ anthology highlights the immense journeys, sacrifices and resilience demonstrated by early migrants in the UK during the 1960s.
This project, culminating in a short film and anthology, explored the concept of beauty in everyday life, and how through the regular battles we face with our bodies, minds and soul - we need to find the courage to choose beauty; to become, 'Beautiful by Design'.
The R&D Creative Writers spent the session rehearsing, and exploring the choreography for the spoken word poetry piece.
Shukr: A Simple Case of Gratitude
2023
‘Shukr’ explored the concept of gratitude through a series of workshop sessions, delving into the nuances of appreciation, self-worth and the often-overlooked aspects of daily life. Special Guests on the project were Abdul Shayek, Artistic Director of Tara Theatre; the oldest South Asian theatre company in the UK, renowned for its innovative and politically charged productions and movement director and performance poet Christopher Brown. Their insights were invaluable in guiding our writers and filmmakers in crafting their narratives with depth and authenticity.
The culmination of this project is two thought-provoking short films: ‘Enough’ and ‘The Gratitude of Nature’.
Based on a spoken word poem by R&D Creative Writers ‘Enough’ explores the concept of self-worth and the importance of recognising the meaningful and valuable aspects of life that are often taken for granted.
"The Gratitude of Nature" examines the interconnection within the natural world and how it fosters a sense of appreciation. This poem highlights the unspoken connections that bind all living things, revealing the inherent gratitude found within these relationships.
Those from Distant Lands
2022
The project resulted in a short film and anthology launched with a poetry performance to audiences across East Lancashire at Landmark Burnley, Burnley Words Festival, Blackburn Central Library and Hills Road College.
‘The Collectives’ anthology highlights the immense journeys, sacrifices and resilience demonstrated by early migrants in the UK during the 1960s.
‘Those from Distant Lands’ explored the formidable story of our ancestors; how those from distant lands left the towns and villages that fed them, defining their place in present times. This project encouraged young people to have the creative freedom to explore the extraordinary stories of their ancestors and work alongside renowned poets to create and share inspiring content to a community audience.
Associate Reece Williams was the project’s Artist-in-residence. A towering presence on the northern spoken word and poetry scene, Williams collaborated with the young poets to produce some inspiring creative content that inspires, empowers and transforms.
