Hugh Culliton 2024
This quote is widely acknowledged as a paraphrasing of Edward Abbey, who wrote: “Growth for the sake of growth is the ideology of the cancer cell.” This quote appears in his 1969 work and has since been echoed by environmentalists like Paul and Anne Ehrlich, who used the metaphor to critique perpetual economic expansion.
Multi Media Practitioner
Starting out as a youth worker for Sheffield City Council in the early 1990s, I forged a career as a music producer, performer and educator. By 1995 I had founded a non-profit organisation called the Music Making Movement, which provides free training and recording time for young people in Sheffield, UK. Our first multi-media recording studio, established in 1999, enjoyed a number of successes before I left the UK in 2003.
My multi-media products are primarily music based, although I also enjoy designing websites and video projects. I have been teaching people to use Cubase music production software since 1995. As a producer, performer and educator I am constantly looking for new innovations that make the creative process more efficient and enjoyable..
Youthwork
My expertise in this area stem from my practice as a youth worker. Focusing on young people facing multiple disadvantages, I combine informal education methods with my love for multi-media production. Whether working in a school, youth centre, recording studio or freelance I use information and communication technologies (ICTs) as a vehicle to reach a shared destination. Of course, the journey (or process) is more significant than the destination (or outcome) in this line of work.
I advocate for "Youthwork as Informal Education" because it is effective at bringing about social change through action and transformation.
Follow these links to read more about youthwork
http://indefenceofyouthwork.com/
http://www.youthandpolicy.org/
Research
My interest in research began half way through my undergraduate degree programme. I planned to study crime and deviance in my second year simply because I thought it would be a subject to which I could relate. As I began to read Howard Becker's book "Outsiders" I started thinking differently. Until this point I had read social science literature begrudgingly for coursework. Since reading about labelling theory I developed a keen interest in crime, deviance, difference and rebellion. Especially working with young people on the margins I found it a stimulating and challenging exercise to apply theory to my practice.
Since that initial fusion of youth work practice and sociology I have pursued a number of related interests. As a practitioner with access to young people's actions, views and opinions, I developed my social and education research skills. Check my publications page for more details.