Provides practical information on the ways in which the creative arts can be used to break the cycle of violence plaguing young people, whether in inner cities, rural communities, or suburban settings. The results of a pilot program in the United Kingdom yield step-by-step guidance to professionals working with 13- to 19-year-old youth. No matter how violence was experienced – bullying, domestic violence, or gang attacks – it emerged as a commonplace event in the lives of the pilot’s participants. The reality that abuse must be negotiated on a daily basis underlies the arts program developed by the Young People and Violence project under the auspices of Save the Children and UK Youth. Features of the program include: (1) definition of an arts-based approach to understanding and addressing violent behavior; (2) guidelines for introducing the theme of violence and other training for youth workers; and (3) detailed explanations of specific activities involving drama, poetry, photography, or creative writing. The objective of each of the arts-based activities is to elicit creative expressions about violence, with the ultimate goal of finding new approaches to avoiding or deflecting violent situations. Additional resources cover arts books, magazines, and materials, telephone help lines, and relevant organizations.
