New Opportunities for Young People at Lichfield Festival
Every year, Lichfield Festival offers not only performances, but a whole selection of creative opportunities for young people to explore, create and express themselves through our learning and participation strand, ASPIRE!
Here’s a look at the current opportunities…
Young Creatives
Open to 16- to 25-year-olds who are interested in building a career in the arts or cultural sector, Young Creatives offers behind-the-scenes access to the Festival; observing rehearsals, events and professional artistic practice. It also offers mentoring to participants with industry professionals, supporting them to engage in creative development, and build networks; a real bridge between youthful ambition and the professional creative world.
If you’re aged 16–25, curious about performance, visual arts, writing, production or arts administration, this is a tangible opportunity to explore, learn, and find your place in the creative sector.
Applications close 30th January.
Find out more about Young Creatives
Young Critics
The Young Critics panel is open to young writers aged 11-18 and offers participants a Festival pass granting free access to selected events, which they attend and then review. Young Critics also take part in writing-workshops and meet participating artists; experiences that help build writing skills, confidence, and a portfolio.
For anyone thinking about creative writing, journalism or arts critique, or simply passionate about how performance makes you feel, this is a brilliant entry point. It’s a chance to see the Festival from the inside, reflect on what you experience, and share your viewpoint.
Applications open: 5th January – 14th February
You will be contacted by 20th February to confirm your place
Lichfield Literature Festival (you must be available for some of the dates) 19th-22nd March.
Find out more about Young Critics
Short-Story Competition
After the success of previous competitions, Lichfield Festival’s Short Story Competition is back for 2026, and the winning entry will once again be read by Stephen Fry!
Based on the theme ‘Growing Tomorrow’, this competition is ideal for younger writers, offering a safe space to experiment, imagine, and express themselves. We are looking for creativity and storytelling, so spelling, punctuation and grammar are not marked. All you have to do is write your 300 word tiny story and send it to us through the form below before 14th February 2026.
Writers must be aged 7-11; applications open on 5th January.
Find out more about the Short Story Competition
For more information or to get involved in another way, email alex.clark-michalek@lichfieldfestival.org.