OUR young people are amazing - they are among the most creative in the world, says Claire O'Hara with pride in her voice.

The producer of Glasgow Youth Arts Hub is talking about the upcoming inaugural Glasgow Youth Arts Festival and she has a simple answer to the question of why the event has come about.

She adds: "I think young people get quite a bad press and in particular just now with everything about youth unemployment.

"There are young people out there who are exceptionally dedicated and work just as hard as adults putting on activities and are very committed.

"This festival is showcasing their organisational skills and giving them a platform to show their work and what the young people of Glasgow are capable of, given the right support network."

"I've been in this job since last July and we keep coming across exceptionally talented young people who are just going under the radar, working in their area, doing things no-one is aware of.

"I'm probably biased because I come from Glasgow but I think our young people are exceptional, they just don't know it."

Kicking off on March 30 for, the 21-day festival offers free arts workshops and performances for children and young people aged from eight to 25 years of age across the city.

Shining a spotlight on the creative work of local grassroots organisations, there will be the chance to try workshops in everything from film, dance and music to drama, storytelling and photography.

There will also be a radio drama, produced with Bolt FM and St Paul's Youth Forum, and a visual art exhibition in Dennistoun's Young Gallery, featuring the art from Dash and Project Ability, organisations working with people who have complex disabilities.

"We have found that young people, especially those most in need, aren't aware of what is available or don't think the arts are for them," says Claire.

"We are covering transport costs and have been since we've been in operation to allow young people to maybe go to another area and try something.

"It is also about confidence, sometimes it's quite hard to say,' I want to do arts' or even identify what it is within the arts you want to try. That's what we're here for, we signpost young people."

Glasgow Youth Arts Hub, one of nine across Scotland, has worked in partnership with Glasgow Connected Arts Network to pull the festival together.

For those dipping their toe in the arts world for the first time, the event gives them the chance to experience the wide range of free activities by working group partners, among them Depot Arts, Impact Films, Platform and Toonspeak Young People's Theatre.

Youth committees, made up of young people from all over Glasgow, have also been involved in organising the festival, offering advice on popular activities and just what their peers are interested in.

"They challenge what our perceptions are, and say thinks like, 'That's never going to work'. That's how they have helped design the programme," says Claire.

"We have worked with young people all along the way and are producing projects they want to get involved in."

Claire is also hopeful the festival will open doors to those in their late teens and early 20s who are looking at developing a career in the arts.

"Creative industries is one of the largest-growing employment sectors for young people and they are not aware of the breadth of jobs that are available," says Claire.

"This will tell them: there are jobs out there that you can train to do.

"You don't make loads of money unless you hit the big time but it's about job satisfaction. I have worked in the arts for more than 20 years and I had no idea when I was starting out what I could do."

After graduating from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, now known as the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Claire has worked as an actor, director and lecturer. She believes people like herself, who work in grassroots organisations and have experienced some of the challenges young people today face, can offer help and advice first-hand.

"It is very important that all of us act as role models. There are different routes into the arts, it's not all about the X Factor, it's about building a sustainable career for the future," says Claire.

Laughing she adds: "My generation are getting old, we need more people who are dedicated to keep the flame burning.

"I think Glasgow is quite unique, I've travelled about quite a bit in my career, in the UK and further afield, and I've never come across an area where there are so many dedicated people working on the front line.

"Glasgow people really get the relevance of arts to transform communities. There's a big buy-in here that you maybe don't get elsewhere. Maybe it's because they're Glaswegian and up for the banter. I think Glasgow is quite unique in how we feel about creativity and we do think, 'Aye, go for it.'"

The aim is to reach out to as many as 100 youngsters during the festival, culminating in a day-long event at Glasgow Green on April 19 with stages in four tents hosting dance, music and drama performances.

A creative industries tent will be the place to go to get inspiring advice on moving on in the arts with staff on hand to answer questions.

"Young people can actually meet those who work in the arts and realise it's not as scary as they think," says Claire.

Visit www.glasgowyouthartshub.org, Facebook.com/Glasgow YAH or Twitter.com/Glasgow YAH.