SAVE THE ARTS: CATH KIDSTON X NATIONAL YOUTH THEATRE
We’re delighted to be partnering with Cath Kidston to celebrate the arts and support the next generation of performers and technicians.
Inspired by their love of theatre Cath Kidston have created a ‘Save the Arts’ print collection across their clothing bags, accessories and childrenswear to stand up for the arts and show support as live-performance returns following lockdown restrictions. During periods of lockdown, Cath Kidston Creative Director and NYT alumna, Holly watched friends struggle whilst their industry was the last to re-open, she also missed taking her children to live performances and seeing their faces light up when being transported into the captivating worlds presented on stage, so she worked to capture the magic in her prints for the collection.
Cath Kidston are presenting this collection as a standing ovation to the arts and to all young performers, after the challenges faced during the past two years, beginning with sponsorship at this year’s National Youth Theatre Gala followed by donations of sales when the collection lands in store this April.
Read more about the Save The Arts print
Cath Kidston Creative Director, Holly hand-painted a beautiful print of the National Youth Theatre’s beautiful newly redeveloped north London home, which was auctioned as part of February’s Fundraising Gala Dinner, which has so far raised over £345,000 for the charity.
Speaking about the collection and supporting the National Youth Theatre Holly said:
"Our Save the Arts print is based on a child's paper cut-out theatre that I saw in the V&A museum. It’s like a toy that you cut out and then make your own little theatre, which we also made for our photoshoot for the collection. The print features lovely theatrical icons and there is a heart-warming sentiment with our ‘standing ovation’ because it’s important that young people feel that.
Save the Arts is so important to Cath Kidston because everything we do as a brand is inspired by the arts, culture and paintings, so when we start a collection that is where we look. When we began designing our Spring ‘22 collections, the theatres and art galleries were closed due to the pandemic. We really missed them all and wanted to celebrate them and this became our Save the Arts collection.
I went to the National Youth Theatre when I was 18 years old until I was about 23, when I left art college. One of the great things about the National Youth Theatre is that they don’t only support actors and performers, but also the people behind the stage, whether you’re a lighting technician or want to go into production, set design, or costume, as I did.
So, it’s a really amazing place to be a part of and shows young people that there’s not only a career in being a performer within theatre, but in all the other areas too. Even though I didn’t go into costume design as a career, one thing that I did learn was that there are all sorts of roles within the theatre for all sorts of creative people, from all different backgrounds, that’s really what the National Youth Theatre stands for.
The work of the National Youth Theatre is so important as it gives all young people the same opportunities for training so they can pursue a career in the arts with bursaries to remove any financial barriers."
National Youth Theatre are very grateful for Cath Kidston’s support, which will help us put more young creative talent centre stage.
Browse the Save the Arts collection