Tanvi Ranjan is a textile artist who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Knitwear Design and Technology and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Fine Art. She will be joining us as our Creative Talent Programme artist for 2022-23. Her work explores subjects of human-machine relationship while elaborating on the techniques of textile making and the role of women in sculpting the future of digital and information age. By highlighting the intersections between textile and digital information, the artist makes visible the complexity of modern technology and internet that is often obscured by the high-speed electronic transmission of data in the form of bits.

By translating coded information into textile patterns, her works expand on the nature of patterns and noises in cybernetics and the ways in which textiles can decode modern technology and its interaction with humans. Following the methods of textile making, her practice further extends to performative and collaborative works investigating the presence of rhythmic patterns and noises using electronic sound and music as this field has in many ways been a liberating tool for women who have for long been exploring the world of experimental electronic music. By identifying such overlapping histories of women, textiles, and technology, the artist constantly stretches the boundaries of how we look at textiles from its simplest construction of weave or knit, to multi-dimensional jacquards.

Chiyana Ankhrah has joined us as Trainee Project Manager as part of our AMP Kingston project, focusing on the local art, music and pop fashion heritage of Kingston upon Thames. Chiyana is a conceptual and editorial portrait photographer who focuses on challenging and destabilising Eurocentric beauty standards, as well as raising awareness about mental illness in the Black community.

Chiyana previously worked with us as a Creative Talent Programme artist from 2021-22. Working with Creative Youth as a young creative and CTP artist, Chiyana further developed her creative practice by showcasing her photography in a thought provoking exhibition, ‘Labels: Black Mental Health and Me’, that explored the effects of situational and generational trauma and its impact on the Black community’s mental health. She is now looking forward to applying her creative skills and interest in Kingston’s heritage to help deliver the AMP Kingston project.

To find out more about what these two are up to, feel free to follow the links to their social media channels below. Also maker sure to sign up to our mailing list to be the first to hear about all the exciting things coming up in the next few months:

• Tanvi’s Instagram: @_tanviranjan_
• Chiyana’s Instagram: @eshephoto

ABOUT AMP KINGSTON:

With young people, this project is an exploration of Kingston’s music heritage from the 1960s – 1990s. This heritage will be identified, recorded and accessed in a range of interactive, sustainable ways. Through uncovering this heritage, the project will not only explore some of the most iconic musical acts of the late twentieth century, but will also celebrate pop fashion, costumes, album artwork, band posters and more.

AMP Kingston will place younger people at the front and centre when it comes to the shaping, planning, delivery and engagement of this project. Together, we will
explore a time period that was rife with bold, charismatic and entertaining advances in artwork, music and pop fashion.

Three themes have been identified. These will be explored through a series of free intervention exhibitions, and younger person-led creative interpretations.

• Art – the rise of artwork in branding and logos for music artists.
• Music – the musicians and artists themselves but also the promoters who enabled their performances to be seen.
• Pop Fashion – the influence of pop fashion in relation to the creation of musical personas and identities.

ABOUT THE ROLE:

The Heritage Volunteers will be instrumental in researching, gathering and recording the heritage which rests at the centre of this project. The volunteers will support Creative Youth in researching, collecting, collating and the public presentation of Kingston’s music heritage from 1960s – 1990s, including interviewing heritage enthusiasts, music and art professionals, and members of the public to gather their stories.

Please see our application pack for a full list of roles and responsibilties.

HOW TO APPLY:

Please complete an Application Form and Equality & Diversity Monitoring Form, links for both can be found below.

If you have any questions about the application process, or would like to arrange an informal chat to discuss the nature of this role, please email Archie at communityengagement@creativeyouthcharity.org

We will accept applications anytime until the end of December 2022.

• Application Form – https://uk.culturecounts.cc/s/2EexMw
• Equality and Diversity Monitoring Form – https://uk.culturecounts.cc/s/6um7KZ

Details

Date:
Friday 2 December

Times:
19:30 – Doors open
20:00 – Support act
21:00 – The Reptiles

Venue:
Arthur Cotterell Theatre, Kingston College

Your tickets will be emailed to you and you can bring these along on a mobile device or print them at home. We’ll also have a guestlist on the door so don’t worry if you don’t have access to a printer.

Book tickets here

We are looking for up to 12 people aged 16 – 26 to form a collective who will plan, deliver and evaluate the various strands of this project.

There will be an opportunity to embed yourself within other areas of the project and with Creative Youth’s wider work/team, if desired. As a team, you will work collaboratively to create a clear vision which is inclusive, represents Kingston’s Art Music Pop Fashion heritage, and is engaging for the widest-possible audience.

For our full application pack, including role description and further information, Heritage Collective Application Pack.

The deadline for completed applications is 12pm Sunday 4th September. Please fill in our short application form by clicking here or following the link below:

https://uk.culturecounts.cc/s/5ZpBK3 

If you have any questions about the application process, or would like to arrange an informal chat to discuss the nature of this role, please email Archie at communityengagement@creativeyouthcharity.org

The deadline for completed applications is 12pm Sunday 4th September.

About AMP Kingston: 

AMP Kingston is an exploration of Kingston’s music heritage from the 1960s – 1990s, spanning three key themes: art, music and pop fashion.

This heritage will be identified, recorded and accessed in a range of interactive, sustainable ways. Through uncovering this heritage, the project will not only explore some of the most iconic musical acts of the late twentieth century, but will also celebrate pop fashion, costumes, album artwork, band posters and more.

AMP Kingston will place younger people at the front and centre when it comes to the shaping, planning, delivery and engagement of this project. Together, we will explore a time period that was rife with bold, charismatic and entertaining advances in artwork, music and pop fashion.

The Heritage Collective are key to the creative direction and artistic output of the project, and will ensure that young people are placed at the centre of the work we do together.

The Creative Talent Programme identifies young and emerging artists and companies who have the potential to become excellent creative practitioners and gives them the artistic, business and strategic support to become flourishing, challenging, exciting organisations of the future.

The arts, and careers within them, are changing. Since 2009, our Creative Talent Programme has been responding to a growing need from emerging and early career artists to develop their artistic skills alongside vital business and strategic awareness.

Previous Creative Talent Programme companies/artists have included award-winning puppetry company Smoking Apples, theatre company Dumbshow, What is Written Dance, and Circus Suburbia.

We are seeking one artist from the local area/Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames who identifies as ethnically diverse. We encourage applications from those who meet the above criteria who may identify as D/deaf and/or disabled and/or neurodiverse.

We are a multi-arts charity and as such would love to work with artists/companies who focus on underrepresented art forms.

Our chosen Creative Talent Programme artist will receive:

• £4,000 commission fee towards your work.
• One year support including professional development, workshops and mentoring.
• Access to free office and rehearsal space (subject to availability)
• Opportunity to perform/present work at FUSE International 2023.

To apply for this opportunity please fill in both the and our through the link below. The deadline to complete these is Friday 26 August 2022 at 12pm.

Application form –

Equal opportunities form –

Speaking about the Creative Talent Programme, CEO of Creative Youth Louise Coles said “As we know young people and young artists have been particularly hit hard by the pandemic, through unemployment, mental health issues and subsequently many feeling a loss of a sense of purpose, so it has been important for us at Creative Youth to ensure we have remained “open for business” providing the much needed stability and support during this time – our Creative Talent programme has been and continues to be a key part of this mission.”

whatshisface theatre company, who were a Creative Talent Programme Company in 2020-21 said “The Creative Talent Programme has helped us navigate through a very difficult period and their support couldn’t have come at a better time. I really admire what Creative Youth do, which is put their artists first. Really recommend this for any artist looking to broaden their networks and strengthen their body of work, all with a bespoke mentorship.”

To learn more about what our current Creative Talent Programme artists Jordy, Scar and Chiyana are up to click here!

If you have any questions or require this application in a different format or need assistance then please feel free to contact us our General Manager, Daniel, on generalmanager@creativeyouthcharity.org.

Also if you have any access requirements or if we can provide any assistance please make sure to contact us to make sure we can best support you through the application process.

As the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee approaches, The Community Brain and Creative Youth have come together to creatively engage our community in this historic occasion. Together, we are co-curating a community art exhibition exploring how The Commonwealth has shaped Kingston and its surrounding area.

Taking place at the Creative Industries Centre, Kingston College from 16-19 June 2022 this exhibition positions the Platinum Jubilee as a moment of reflection.

Over the next few weeks, we will be showcasing the artists and communities who have been involved in curating the exhibition.

Watch this space for more updates…

Expect conversations around the importance of making work for local communities and how to access those not in typical ‘reach’ of the arts. We want to hear what you have to say! Keep an eye out on this page for updates on our panel very soon.

Be sure to register your FREE place for Monday’s live conversation by following the link below or  🎙️

This webinar is part of a free series by Creative Youth, called So You Wanna Work in/Change the Arts, discussing key arts industry topics. Visit our page on Anchor to listen to our full archive of webinar sessions.