The Role of Arts in Youth Work

Art in youth work has long been spoken about in terms of wellbeing, expression, and creativity, yet its role stretches far beyond simply helping young people “feel better.” When artistic disciplines are integrated into youth work, they become powerful tools for engagement, growth, and social change. The act of creating whether through visual arts, music, dance, theatre, digital media, or socially engaged practices invites young people to think, question, and collaborate in ways that traditional approaches often cannot. But what is it about the arts that creates such unique openings? And are we, as practitioners, fully tapping into this potential?

Art demands participation. A blank page, an instrument, a lens, a body in motion these are not passive spaces. They invite decision making, ownership, and experimentation, allowing young people to navigate uncertainty and develop confidence through doing. Artistic methods naturally encourage critical thinking: they ask young people to interpret, to make sense of contradiction, to reflect on the world around them, and to explore perspectives that may challenge their own. In this sense, arts practices do not merely support youth engagement; they deepen it, making room for curiosity, risk-taking, and the courage to question what “is” and imagine what “could be.”

Importantly, art also expands the scope of participation. Some young people who may not engage with formal discussions or structured activities suddenly find themselves fully immersed in a creative process that feels accessible, meaningful, and culturally relevant. Artistic disciplines offer different entry points: the quiet reflection of painting, the collective pulse of music, the embodied dialogue of theatre, the immediacy of photography or film. Each discipline invites a different kind of voice; one that does not always rely on words yet can speak volumes.

When young people use art to communicate their experiences, they do more than express themselves. They influence others. Artistic work can highlight social issues, provoke dialogue, and mobilise communities. It can make the invisible visible. Through artistic interventions, young people not only explore identity and emotion but also become contributors to cultural and social conversations. This raises a question for youth workers: are we willing to embrace art not just as a tool for wellbeing, but as a vehicle for activism, agency, and transformation?

At Aġenzija Żgħażagħ, art and culture programmes are developed in collaboration with established, professional entities within the arts sector, recognising that quality artistic experiences matter. Such collaborations ensure that young people are not merely “doing an activity,” but engaging in meaningful artistic processes guided by experts in their field.

Perhaps the real role of the arts in youth work is to remind us that young people are creators not only of art, but of possibility. The question is how boldly we allow them to create.