About Us
“You don’t need to be involved or even musical to experience and understand its creativity, it just blows everything you think about orchestras & young people to bits.”
Jack, 16 years old
Tinderbox aims to ignite a spark in young people – one which fills them with confidence, imagination and sense of possibility, and which enables people to achieve things they never thought possible. Our work uses music and the arts to bring people together and strengthen communities, providing exciting opportunities to those who need them most, and supporting young people to build their confidence, skills, self-esteem, and professional experience.
Our Vision
A creative, ambitious and inclusive youth culture – one that cuts across social and economic divides, brings together diverse influences, and is listened to and valued by society.
Who We Are
A vibrant and diverse collective of young people, musicians, artists, youth workers and volunteers.
What We Do
From grass routes youth work to award winning arts productions, Tinderbox offers a range of creative workshops, orchestra courses, arts residences and apprenticeship programmes. We provide a year-round programme working with hundreds of children and young people aged 10-25, from complete beginners to young professionals and all levels in between.
Our Approach
Our approach balances ambitions to create high quality and original work, with a drive to be genuinely inclusive and foster active and creative participation from everyone involved. These ambitions greatly support each other, providing inspiring and powerful learning opportunities that lead to original work with diverse influences.
Background
Founded in 2010 as an alternative youth orchestra in Edinburgh, Tinderbox has grown to become a leading arts and youth organisation. We now work with hundreds of young people each year and have produced a number of award winning productions, working with local communities in Edinburgh & Scotland through to international collaborators in China and Bosnia. Tinderbox has opened up new territory and ideas, bringing together people of different ages, genres and disciplines, and inspiring a creative community unlike any other.
