Bristol’s creative future depends on the young people growing up in our city today — their ideas, their curiosity, and the opportunities we collectively make possible. That’s why the Royal West of England Academy (RWA) is proud to take part in the Big Give Arts for Impact 2026 campaign, running for just seven days from midday on 17 March.

Double Your Impact Today – Donate Here

For one week only, every pound donated to the RWA will be doubled, helping us raise £20,000 to launch RWA Futures: our bold new year‑round youth engagement programme designed to transform access to the arts for Bristol’s young people.

Why Now? 

Across Bristol, too many young people still face barriers to creative experiences. Some don’t see a place for themselves in the arts. Others simply don’t know what’s possible — or how many different pathways exist across the cultural and creative industries.

At a time in life when new experiences can shape identity, confidence and long‑term opportunity, these gaps matter.

RWA Futures is our bold response: a commitment to opening up access to creative opportunities for Bristol’s young people.

Introducing RWA Futures: Creativity That Opens Doors

We’ve already seen first‑hand how powerful access to the arts can be and how it can change how a young person sees themselves and their future.

RWA Futures will build on this work by offering a year‑round programme of creative engagement for Bristol’s young people, particularly those with SEN+D or from lower socio-economic backgrounds.

The programme will focus on helping young people:

• build confidence
• develop creative and transferable skills
• understand the vast range of careers across the arts and wider creative industries
• feel a genuine sense of belonging within Bristol’s cultural community

This is about nurturing talent, widening access, and investing in the next generation of Bristol’s creative thinkers and leaders.

This Week Your Support Has Twice the Impact

With match funding generously provided by The Reed Foundation and The Friends of the RWA, every donation made between 17–24 March will be doubled.

For this week only:

• £10 becomes £20
• £50 becomes £100
• £250 becomes £500

Every contribution directly supports opportunities for young people who might otherwise be left out of the creative landscape.

How You Can Help

• Donate via the Big Give between 17–24 March
• Share the campaign across your networks
• Champion access to the arts for the next generation

Together, the Bristol creative community can shape a more inclusive, diverse and vibrant future — one where every young person knows that creativity is for them.

Thank You

A huge thank‑you to everyone who supports us, shares our work, and believes in the incredible potential of Bristol’s young people.

With your help, RWA Futures can grow into something truly transformative for our city.