Last month we said that’s a wrap on New Creatives for 2023, our programme for 16-24 year-olds looking to gain experience in creative industries.  In the last sessions of the year, the group reflected on an epic year of event planning and hosting, of performing and making art together, of sharing skills and learning new ones – and much more! 

At the end of the final New Creatives session of 2023, we asked the group to describe their time at Rich Mix and they shared the following words with us:  

  • Phenomenal
  • Adventure
  • Development
  • Life-Changing
  • Stimulating 

Over the course of the year, the New Creatives have gone on an epic adventure. From performing at All Points East to planning and hosting a youth festival at Rich Mix, we’ve had so many highlights. Read on to hear about what the participants got up to throughout the year:

 

All Points East 

In the summer, New Creatives joined the Rich Mix team in bringing the programme ‘Our Journey’s Our Endz’ to the East London festival, All Points East In the Neighbourhood. 

 

Photo by Angie Owiti

 

The New Creatives took to the stage to share their music and perform, as well as trying their hand at running a live event, gaining event management skills and work experience by planning and facilitating the programme.  

 

Photo by Angie Owiti

 

In a crossover of New Creatives past and present, DJ Pebz of the 2021 cohort showed off her skills on the decks – resulting in an impromptu dance party that was one of the highlights of the day.

 

Photo by Angie Owiti

 

I feel like I can take on the world!
New Creative

 

Where Endz Meet 

Later in the summer, the New Creatives cohort continued to develop their skills by working together to programme, plan and coordinate a new youth festival, Where Endz Meet, an event by young people for young people. 

 

Photo by Bettina Adela

 

Where Endz Meet was a free collaborative music and fashion event, where, over the course of the day, the group presented a pop-up market, a runway show, a music industry panel, an exhibition and live performances. With a great turnout, it was a wonderful celebration of creativity, with a joyous energy radiating around the building for the audience and organisers alike. 

 

Photo by Bettina Adela

 

Photo by Bettina Adela

Photo by Bettina Adela

 

 

Photo by Bettina Adela

Photo by Bettina Adela

     

I’ve grown in confidence, socializing, picking up on things that help me acknowledge my own life
New Creative

 

 

Launching New Creates 

After a successful summer, our young people’s programme excitingly expanded this autumn, with drop-in film and music sessions on Wednesdays, in addition to the regular New Creatives workshops on Tuesdays. These new sessions offered a more flexible way to get involved, with participants able to attend as and when they were available. 

 

 

In New Creates: Film, the group developed their filmmaking and editing skills – writing their own scripts and stories, filming on location around Shoreditch, and also collaborating with the New Creates: Music group, filming behind the scenes footage of their music making progress.

 

Photo by Sufia Sadullah

 

In the music sessions the group collaborated on writing, producing and recording original tracks, resulting in the creation of a 13-track album. As part of the last session of the year, the group invited members of the Rich Mix team to an album listening party.

LISTEN TO THE ALBUM – SOMEWHERE IN THE EAST

 

Loved coming here every week and being surrounded by creatives
New Creative

 

Photo by Sufia Sadullah

 

 

New Creatives is supported by The Mayor’s Young Londoners Fund, Backstage Trust, Margaret Killbery Foundation, The Allan Trust, British Land, Aldgate and Allhallows.