23 May 2023
Metroland Young Associates – 2023 Collective Rhythms
We’ve been planning it for months. Now, at last we’ve welcomed our 20 new Metroland Young Associates!
We had a lot of applications for the programme this year. From them we chose 20 exciting young people from across Brent. A big hello and welcome goes out to:
Najma, Helayna, Ishe, Michael, Kimberley, Benjamin, Kerry, Louis, Izzy, Elye, Safia, Sandip, Om, Elizabeth, Schweta, Lada, Onosiokhue, Ann, Carmen and Alexandru.
What is Metroland Young Associates?
Metroland Young Associates is our paid development programme for young people in Brent.
It helps them gain the skills and experience needed for a creative career. This year’s programme is part of COLLECTIVE RHYTHMS. It is all about developing the future soundtrack of Brent.
Over 12 weekly workshops, the participants will:
- learn new practical skills in sound and media
- get industry knowledge
- broaden their creative horizons
- work with an industry mentor
- put on a sound event together
We began with an intro day at Metroland Studios. The MYA’s met their two amazing lead artists, Shepherd Manyika and Jesse Lawson. This first session was all about becoming a collective. We talked about our sense of belonging in the borough, sharing music and drawing collaborative portraits.
Mentoring
Part of the programme is our unique industry professional mentoring scheme.
We’ve recruited an incredible selection of mentors from the arts and music industries. They have each been matched to work 1-2-1 with one of the MYA’s, offering advice and career guidance. They will support the young people by sharing their knowledge and networks.
We’d like to say a huge thank you to all our mentors for supporting the Metroland Young Associates:
- Edward Ball – Director – Devonshire Collection
- Barry – Photographer / Music Producer – Tim and Barry
- Kiera Blakey – Chief Producer – ICA
- Jareh Das – Independent Curator, Writer, Researcher
- Elijah – Music Producer / DJ / Co-Founder of BUTTERZ records
- Joe Grant – Senior Music Event Manager – Roundhouse
- Aliyah Hasinah – Curator – Black Curatorial Labs
- Roshni Hirani – HR (Serpentine Gallery) & Board Member (Metroland Cultures)
- Marwan Kaabour – Graphic Designer
- Linett Kamala – Artist (Lin Kam Arts) / Board Director Notting Hill Carnival
- Heiba Lamara – Artist / Researcher – OOMK
- Laima Leyton – Music Producer
- Brendan Lynch – Music Producer & Studio Manager
- Leonara Manyangadze – Senior Programmer – Somerset House
- Lexy Morvaridi – Music Programmer – Southbank Centre
- Rachel Noel – Head of Learning Programmes and Partnerships – Tate
- Rikky Onefeli – Creative Learning Producer – Barbican Centre
- Toddla T – Music Producer / DJ
- Lenny Watson – Founder – Sister Midnight – Live Events Management Tutor (ICMP)
- Matt Williams – Public Programme Curator – Camden Art Centre
We matched up our young people and mentors at an event at the Tin Tabernacle in Kilburn. Since then they’ve already begun meeting and connecting further.
Out and About
We also want to expand horizons and engage in creative and critical thinking together.
As part of this we visited an exhibition at the ICA in central London. It was an immersive show by an artist known as RIP Germaine, looking at gatekeeping in Black culture.
After the visit we talked together about big ideas, like the myths behind Black culture and culture mining. This led to thinking about personal narratives, asking questions such as ‘how do we see our stories?’ and ‘what stories do we want to represent?’.
Keep up with what our MYAs are up to on our Instagram. And look out for the collective show they make at the end!
In other news…
Sufra Community Commission
Our latest community commission is announced! We are excited to be joined by artist Sean Roy Parker who will be building an interesting new structure in the edible garden at SUFRA.
From New Zealand To Metroland!
Metroland and the Delfina Foundation are excited to announce that we’ve chosen James Tapsell-Kururangi as the inaugural New Zealand curator-in-residence for the Delfina Foundation’s Spring 2023 Residency season in partnership with Te Tuhi.
Allegorhythms – Bill Daggs
Artist Bill Daggs will take over Metroland Studios Gallery and create a space for listening, rest, and meditation. 8th – 24th September 2023