Young creatives take over arts centre for skills week

Participants take to the stage at Rich Mix. Pic: Juliet Moore

Participants take to the stage at Rich Mix. Pic: Juliet Moore

Bethnal Green’s Rich Mix arts centre has teamed up with youth arts agency, Industry In The Streets, for the return of their Youth Takeover Festival.

The series of events called #IITSPIRATION, intends to connect young creatives with industry professionals and offer them the chance at running an arts festival.

With Tower Hamlets having the highest child poverty rate in the UK at 42 per cent, #IITSPIRATION allows young people in the borough a chance to express their creativity without breaking the bank.

Industry in the Streets, created by Alain ‘Fusion’ Clapham with Roxanne Williams of Crazivity and Iain Clark of TrybeTV two years ago, #IITSPIRATION aims to create a safe-space for young people to develop their art skills and provide an accessible platform for them to network with creative professionals.

Fusion, creative director of Industry In The Streets said: “It’s not free because it didn’t cost anything, it’s free because we need to gift our talents to people, if we expect something to grow we have to share it with people.”.

#IITSPIRATION kicked off the festival with a series of workshops that went on February 15, which was then followed by the #IITSPRATION Showcase – an evening of arts and music.

The night started with an open mic competition, allowing young London residents to perform their own songs, varying from MCs to singers. The winner, Ishy Dee, a north London R&B singer and producer, was allowed to perform a full version of an original song.

The open mic was followed by performances from various artists, including east London natives, Hak Baker & B Polymath.

#IITSPIRATION hosted their final event on Wednesday – a debate between industry professionals and young people wanting to begin careers in the creative field, looking at the ways in which young people face difficulties in these career paths.

More events from the Youth Takeover Festival will carry on throughout the week.

Information about the events can be found on the Rich Mix website http://www.richmix.org.uk/

Additional reporting by Juliet Moore

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