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Join Certain Blacks’ Creative Youth Panel

By CB News, News

 

Call Out: Join Certain Blacks’ Creative Youth Panel

Calling all creative young people aged 18–25 

Are you curious about the arts? Do you think creatively and want to make a difference?

We are inviting young people to join a youth panel as part of Certain Black’s engagement programme Engineers of the Imagination.  The youth panel will collaborate with the team to shape the presence of outdoor arts and participation in local neighbourhoods.

The Youth Panel and Why it Matters

The Youth Panel is a group of creative and like-minded young people interested in arts, and their surrounding communities. The Youth Panel is at the heart of our engagement programme.

Together, we’ll explore questions like:

  • How can outdoor arts better serve our communities?
  • What would truly inclusive, accessible programming look like?
  • Who else needs to be part of this conversation?

No experience needed, just bring your voice, perspective and a collaborative spirit! We particularly encourage applications from young people from Beckton, Newhan and Custom House but are open to young people applying from other areas. 

Who We Are

Certain Blacks is an arts development organisation rooted in East London. We are dedicated to supporting artists from all dimensions of diversity, including different socioeconomic, ethnic, gender and neurodiverse identities. We firmly believe in nurturing long-term relationships with artists, arts organisations, venues, festivals, and promoters, as they are integral to our mission. With a focus on live art, dance, music, theatre, and digital platforms, our goal is to secure lasting investments in diverse works, enabling them to tour and perform not only in the UK but also internationally.

At Certain Blacks, talent development plays a crucial role in our work. We provide emerging artists with professional space and support to showcase their work on a national scale. We understand that individuals from minority communities often face barriers in their creative journeys, experiencing exclusion and limited opportunities. As an organisation that represents excellence, we offer a platform for both new and established artists to expand their professional horizons by working in diverse environments and connecting with broader audiences.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of Certain Blacks. As we commemorate a decade of supporting diverse artists and offering a national platform for underrepresented voices, our mission for 2025 is to cultivate lasting relationships with individuals, local communities, organisations, and initiatives where we are based, ensuring that outdoor arts thrive and resonate with all.

About Engineers of the Imagination 

Engineers of the Imagination is Certain Blacks’ Audience Engagement Programme. It aims to transform the landscape of outdoor arts engagement in Custom House, Beckton, and Newham by empowering a group of young people -the Youth Panel- to become community leaders and ambassadors of our Ensemble Festival. Through innovative programming inspired by radical performance practices, we seek to create inclusive, accessible experiences that celebrate diverse voices and foster community connections. To see some of the work from our previous festivals check out our 2024 programme. 

This is an opportunity for learning, exchange, collaboration and co-creation. Participants will receive mentorship, hands-on learning opportunities, and direct access to artists and producers in the outdoor arts sector. 

You will be invited to contribute ideas, co-design a manifesto for future audiences, and play an active role in shaping outdoor arts in your community.

By joining the Youth Panel you’ll gain:

  • Insight into the inner workings of outdoor art and how festivals are produced
  • Opportunities for paid festival assistant work. 
  • Mentorship from creative professionals
  • Skills in planning, collaboration and audience engagement
  • A platform to share your ideas and celebrate your community
  • An opportunity to experience a wide range of outdoor arts performances 
  • To help reduce barriers to participation, we’re able to offer £80 to each participant.

What we’re looking for

We welcome applications from individuals who are:

  • Aged 18–25
  • Interested in arts, culture, or creative practices
  • Passionate about community, equity, and collaboration

Timeline & Commitment

Deadline to Apply: Monday 7th july 

Programme Start: Week of 7th of July 2025

Programme End: November 2025

  1. Creative Workshops
  • 4 in-person sessions:
  • 4 workshops between July and September  2025
  1. Touch Points & Online Forums / Insight Sessions
  • Online check-ins
  • Online insight sessions with industry professionals
  1. Ensemble Festival Participation
  • Attend the Ensemble Festival on 26–27 July 2025
  1. “Go and See” Opportunities
  • August
  • Go, Grandad, Go by Company DHW (GDIF)
  • Eshu at the Crossroads by Theatre Rites and Miguel Altunaga (GDIF)
  • September:
  • Closer to My Dreams by Chad Taylor (Redbridge Outdoor Arts)
  • RO-TES by Stopgap Dance Theatre (GDIF)
  • October:
  • Patois by Jeanefer Jean-Charles (Redbridge Outdoor Arts)
  1. Ensemble Festival 2026 Programme Selection 
  • Meet with Certain Blacks’ Artistic Director to share feedback on proposed commissions and performances for Ensemble Festival 2026. This will be an opportunity to consult on the 2026 programme selection process

Ongoing activities will include:

  • Creative workshops and check-ins 
  • Visits to cultural and artistic venues
  • Input into the Ensemble Festival 2026 programme
  • Online forums and insight sessions with industry professionals 
  • Co-creation of a Youth Panel Manifesto

Additional Information

  • There is no cost to take part
  • All sessions will be a mix of online (Thursday evenings) and in-person meetings (Fridays/Saturdays, depending on group availability). Online sessions will be held in accessible spaces or online via Teams or Zoom. 
  • Festival Assistant opportunities will be available during the Ensemble Festival (paid at London Living Wage: £13.80/hour)
  • To help reduce barriers to participation, we’re able to offer £80 to each participant.

Ready to Join Us?

We would love to hear from you, so fill out the forms and tell us a bit about yourself and why this opportunity excites you!

Please complete both the Youth Panel Application Form and our Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form using the links below. Both forms are required to be considered for the programme.

  1. Application form 
  2. Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form 

Enquiries 

For any questions please contact Amelia Coles, Audience Builder at: engagement@certainblacks.com

We look forward to hearing  from you!

Certain Blacks are committed to being a truly inclusive organisation – from our Trustees and team members to our audience and participants. We treat all applications equally, regardless of race, age, disability, gender identity or gender expression, race, ethnicity, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, or any other equality characteristic. We particularly encourage applications from groups who are underrepresented in the cultural sector including working-class people, disabled people, and people from Global Majority backgrounds.

Braintown

By Events, News, Shipbuilders festival

Certain Blacks Present Braintown

  • Live streamed from the Light Vessel 93 on Sunday 6 December at 15:30:pm.
  • Braintown by Svalbard is commissioned by Certain Blacks and is part of Join the Docks autumn programme presented by the Royal Docks team.

Project Description

Over the first weekend of December performance company Svalbard will be collaborating with Deadbeat Films to create a stunning site-specific piece onboard the iconic Light Vessel 93, a former Trinity House lighthouse boat moored in Victoria Docks.

This brand-new performance for Join the Docks has been commissioned by Certain Blacks, producers behind last year’s Ensemble Festival.  Svalbard will use their signature blend of live music, contemporary dance / circus, and cinematography to explore the human brain and the architecture of the lightship in this stunning new collaboration.

The event will be filmed and live streamed direct from the ship inviting the audience to jump onboard with the artists as they embody the hull, navigate the bridge and digitize performance below deck – bringing this intimate performance right into the heart of people’s homes – a welcome shining beacon in these turbulent times.

This is the second project developed by producers Certain Blacks as part of Join the Docks who are based locally in Custom House in the Royal Docks. The performance is part of Ship Building – a large body of creative work being developed by Certain Blacks in response to the current UK societal climate and reflecting the heritage of the London docks.

Ensemble Festival

By News

Ensemble Festival  24th August 2019

The Ensemble Festival on the 24th August 2019 was great success check out all the images here