Call Out: Join Certain Blacks’ Creative Youth Panel
Calling all creative young people aged 18–25 from Newham, Beckton, and Custom House
Are you curious about the arts? Do you care about your community? 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, and, as a member, you’ll help ensure that the voices of young people from Newham, Beckton, and Custom House are not only heard but actively shape our programming and how we engage with our communities.
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 nearby surrounding 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
- 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
What we’re looking for
We welcome applications from individuals who are:
- Aged 18–25
- Based in or from Newham, Beckton, or Custom House (and immediate surrounding areas in East London)
- Interested in arts, culture, or creative practices
- Passionate about community, equity, and collaboration
Timeline & Commitment
Deadline to Apply: Thursday 26th of June 2025
Panel Confirmed: Week of 30th of June 2025
Programme Start: Week of 7th July 2025
Programme End: November 2025
- Creative Workshops
- 6 in-person sessions:
- 3 workshops in June and July 2025
- 3 workshops between August and November 2025
- Touch Points & Online Forums / Insight Sessions
- Bi-weekly online check-ins
- Online insight sessions with industry professionals
- Ensemble Festival Participation
- Attend the Ensemble Festival on 26–27 July 2025
- “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)
- 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 cover some travel expenses where needed
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.
Enquiries
For any questions please contact Kundai Moyo, 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.
