We Are Lewisham launches Creative Futures

We Are Lewisham has today launched a programme to help 16-30 year olds in Lewisham who are looking for a career in the arts and culture sector.

Creative Futures is a year-long programme of free events, training and information and guidance, with a different industry focus each month.  Young people will be able to attend talks and workshops led by a wide range of professionals in the creative industry – including video game designers, broadcasters, sound engineers, fashion designers and music marketeers. 

Highlights include a talk hosted by Amiga Harewood, 18, on the different careers available in the film industry at Catford Mews on 24 February, and a Creative Careers Fair which will be held at Goldsmiths, University of London on 26 May.

Supplementing the talks and workshops will be resources available on wearelewisham.com  – developed throughout the year to provide guidance on subjects such as building portfolio careers, setting up as a freelancer and launching creative start-ups.

Creative Futures will leave a lasting legacy well beyond Lewisham’s year as London Borough of Culture, with job opportunities created and taken up by local residents, in addition to over 5000 hours of paid employment for young people at London Living Wage in Lewisham as part of the programme.

Justine Simons OBE, Deputy Mayor for Culture and the Creative Industries said:

“Creative Futures is a brilliant doorway into the creative sector for people. It will inspire young Londoners in Lewisham to become part of the next generation of creative talent. It will also help employers to think differently about how they recruit new and diverse talent, filling skills gaps and ensuring the sector can thrive for years to come. It’s great to see Lewisham already paving the way for a legacy beyond their year as London Borough of Culture.”

Damien Egan, Mayor of Lewisham said: 

“We’re so excited to be able to launch Creative Futures today – one of our key legacy projects of We Are Lewisham.  As Mayor I get to visit our schools and colleges and see the incredible talent among our young people here in Lewisham, and it’s fantastic that we are able to support them further along their journey.  Careers in culture and the arts are seen as inaccessible for a lot of our young people and we hope to change that with this programme, and open some doors for them.”

Amiga Harewood, host of the first Industry Talk, said:

“I think Creative Futures is important because it’s a wide industry. You don’t want kids to have narrow pathways or a narrow mindset in the creative industries….I’m excited about learning more with Creative Futures…taking that with me and inspiring other people, and seeing kids my age looking up to people who are excited about the same pathway that they’re on.”

Young people who are interested in joining the programme should register for more information at www.wearelewisham.com/get-involved/up-skill-with-creative-futures/