Having identified a need for affordable spaces for creatives to come together and work with communities, we launched this programme in FUSEBOX last year (with past residents, WOM Collective) and have since hosted a series of events, exhibitions and workshops for local communities.

The Community in Residence programme offers community partner access to FUSEBOX (subject to availability), support for funding applications, and a collaborative approach to engaging young people (ages 5-30) in our Borough. We are now delighted to be working with KIFF on the following programme:

FilmBox

FilmBox, which was launched last May, will continue as a core activity, building on our pilot workshops and screenings. This free monthly club fosters film discussions and networking, with varied sessions on Wednesday evenings for young and emerging filmmakers aged 16+.

Learn more about our upcoming FilmBox events here. 

Festival Partnerships June-July 2025

Our joint vision is to promote Kingston as a ‘Festival Town’. KIFF brings independent filmmakers, industry professionals and students together with the local community for film opportunities throughout the year, culminating in three days of screenings, workshops, and events at venues across Kingston in June. FUSE International is a ten-day international celebration of live performance and creativity. Our programme is packed with inspiring, funny and thought-provoking shows that bring us together through live performance. Both are “Festivals for Everyone”.

Find out more about FUSE International here.

Find out more about Kingston International Film Festival here. 

Markets: “Ghosts, Manifestations & Visions’ Project Exhibition

Alongside Creative Youth, KIFF will co-curate a two-week exhibition which will take place in September at FUSEBOX exploring Kingston’s Ancient Marketplace through film, visual art, and heritage. This exhibition should touch upon the three key themes of Creative Youth’s wider ‘Markets’ project; by uncovering the past (ghosts), examining the present (manifestations), and questioning the future (visions) of Kingston’s Ancient Marketplace.

Young Creative Representative

Creative Youth’s initiatives are steered by their Young Creatives board, comprising individuals aged 16- 30 who represent a diverse range of backgrounds, experiences and artistic interests. For the 2025-2026 cohort, KIFF have nominated Joe Coombs Berry to be their representative and join this board, ensuring collaborative efforts are youth-led and inclusive.

Find Out More about our Young Creatives Panel here.

Partnering with Children’s International Film Festival (CIFF) 2025

We are also pleased to announce that Creative Youth, will be the official charity Partner of the Children’s International Film Festival (CIFF) 2025. A champion of both the arts and young people, Creative Youth will provide some exciting workshops for school children coming to the Film Festival, centred around creativity in the pre-production process.

Find Out More about CIFF here.

With plenty of events for everyone to choose, from drag and comedy shows, to live music and family theatre, check out the range of events below.

The Ugly Bug Winter Drag Ball

Friday 5 December

Klub Obskura are delighted to return to Kingston to present the Ugly Bug Winter Ball, a celebration of the beauty of Winter through the eyes of the insect kingdom.

Book Now

Dick Whittington

Friday 6 & Saturday 7 December

This Christmas, come join the team who brought you The First Father Christmas, as they retell the mostly traditional tale of Dick Whittington. Full of fun, laughter, phonics, counting, dance, song, shapes, puppetry and a flying cat!

Book Now

Mrs Smith: See Me! (Nativity Edition)

Friday 13 & Sunday 15 December

Ever wondered what your teacher was thinking? Let Facebook’s Mrs Smith enlighten you! Following her sellout debut at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2023 she is stepping out from behind her mask of anonymity on tour and is ready to tell all!

Book Now

Having just launched on Thursday 3rd October, FUSEBOX is once again delighted to be filled with works from a series of featured young artists, expressing insightful and bold commentary through their unique artistry and range of mediums.

Both Exhibitions will run until Saturday 12 October, 18:00.

Black Chorus: A Symphony of Art

This exhibition takes ownership of and reflects the multiplicity of Black identities, cultural narratives and experiences throughout the diaspora in order to uplift and celebrate narratives that have often historically been under or misrepresented in the art world.

Black Chorus Artists include:

Chiyana Ankhrah

Caroline Lacoma

Charisa Francis

Passing Through by Chisara Vidale

These works are part of a series of works that tenderly depict intimate moments of interaction between horses in dream-like landscapes, imbued with an otherworldly sense of light and energy. Her use of colour reflects a feeling of wonder that takes hold whilst outdoors, the pink of late summer sunsets fills the trees, and the moving patterns of water flow over the bodies of horses and the hills.

Our new programme features three areas: Cabaret at FUSEBOX, FUSE Replay and FUSEBOX Exhibitions. These will run in addition to our regular community events programme.

Check out FUSE Replay this autumn:

The Womb 

Friday 25 Oct 2024, 20:00

The Womb is a three-hander provocative play about the absurd things that women have been going through since the beginning of the world.

An Evening with Dillon Dance

Sunday 24 November 2024, 16:00

After a standout out show at FUSE International 2024, Dillon Dance presents an intimate evening of performance, drawing on previous and new work.

Mrs Smith – See Me! The Nativity Edition

Friday 13 & Sunday 15 December 2024, 20:00

Ever wondered what your teacher was thinking? Let Facebook’s Mrs Smith enlighten you! Following her sellout debut at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2023 she is stepping out from behind her mask of anonymity on tour and is ready to tell all!

Find Out More

From the vibrant streets of Kingston to stages around the world, our work has touched thousands of lives. Whether through FUSE International (formerly IYAF – International Youth Arts Festival), the UK’s largest youth arts festival, our year-round Creative Talent Programme, or the countless opportunities provided by our new multi-arts venue, FUSEBOX, we’ve helped shape the futures of the next generation of artists, creators, and leaders.

But today, we face an imminent challenge that could jeopardise everything we’ve built. Due to unforeseen financial difficulties, rising costs and the increasingly challenging funding landscape within the arts and charitable sector, our ability to continue our vital work is at risk. As with festivals across the country, this year’s FUSE International suffered from the challenges above and as a result, we need to raise funds to get us through this moment until October, when we will be stable.

We are launching an urgent crowdfunding campaign, and we need your support to ensure that Creative Youth can continue to thrive and inspire.

The challenging backdrop for the arts:

FUSE International is not alone in suffering from higher costs and poorer ticket sales.

• So far this year, 60 festivals have been postponed or cancelled, up from 36 last year, according to the Association of Independent Festivals (AIF). And since 2019, when there were 630 festivals across the country, 192 have disappeared.
• Despite 2.6 million tickets issued and thousands of shows across multiple venues in the city, Fringe bosses have warned that the future of the Edinburgh Festivals are at risk if the UK continues down the path of cuts to arts education
• The Music Venue Trust has highlighted the significant decline in the number of grassroots music venues – between 2007 and 2016, the UK lost approximately 35% of its grassroots music venues.

Why we need your help: 

We need to cover a financial shortfall in September. Your donation isn’t just a contribution; it’s an investment in the future. It’s a lifeline for the young people who rely on us to provide opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach. It’s a chance to keep the arts alive in our community and beyond and your support is needed now more than ever to ensure that we can:

• Support emerging artists: With your help, we can continue to offer support, mentoring, and performance opportunities to young creatives through our Creative Talent Programme.
• Empower young minds: Your donation will fund skills development, work experience, and training for under-30s, opening doors to careers in the arts and beyond.
• Sustain FUSE International (formerly IYAF): Help us keep the UK’s largest youth arts festival alive, bringing together young artists from around the world to share their talents with thousands of audience members.
• Keep FUSEBOX Open: Ensure that our innovative arts space remains a safe haven for creativity, community, and collaboration.

There will be a thank you wall in FUSEBOX where every individual, organisation and business who supports will be recognised.

Provide safe spaces for young people to test ideas

We know from our past two music heritage projects that so many stars of the music industry emerged from using small venues and festivals as a testbed of ideas.

A current example of this is SpitLip whose show, Operation Mincemeat (currently at the West End) has received over 67 five-star reviews, making it one of the best reviewed shows in West End history.

Felix Hagan, co-writer of Operation Mincemeat, speaks about the importance of ‘honing our craft and creative voice’ through many years of trial and testing at small platforms, such as those provided by Creative Youth.

How you can help: 

Every pound you donate brings us closer to our goal of keeping Creative Youth alive and thriving. Whether it’s £10 or £1,000, your contribution will make a real difference. If you can’t donate, please consider sharing our campaign with your networks—every bit of support helps.

Make a donation today to make a difference
Together we can use the arts to transform lives and create brighter futures.

After another successful FUSE International this summer, as well as marking a whole year since opening our doors at FUSEBOX, this season we are introducing our brand new Creative Youth Programme.

Bringing you cabaret shows, festival favourites and visual art exhibitions, we are delighted to present what’s coming up…. tickets on sale now!

⭐️Cabaret at FUSEBOX⭐️

Welcoming cabaret artists from across London to FUSEBOX for one night only. Take a look:

Bad Energy from Comedy vs Climate Change

Friday 6 September, 20:00

⭐️FUSE Replay⭐️

Celebrating the best of FUSE International and festivals across London. Take a look:

The Womb from Co Theatre

Friday 25 October, 20:00

The Womb is a three-hander provocative play about the absurd things that women have been going through since the beginning of the world. Witty, fast-paced dialogue, original techno-atmospheric music, and three lost women in a place they can never ever leave…

⭐️FUSEBOX Exhibitions⭐️ 

Free open-call exhibitions based around a new theme each month. Take a look: 

Black Chorus: A Symphony of Art 

Thursday 3 – Saturday 12 October

This exhibition takes ownership of and reflects the multiplicity of Black identities, cultural narratives and experiences throughout the diaspora in order to uplift and celebrate narratives that have often historically been under or misrepresented in the art world.

Check out the full programme via our What’s On Page.

The exhibition presented an eclectic mix of works that spanned various mediums, styles, and themes, highlighting the unique voices of each artist. From bold abstract compositions to technically exquisite photography, the collection was a true celebration of the visual arts in response to preservation in all its forms.

Our open call exhibitions are all about creating a space where different artistic visions could intersect, challenge, and inspire one another. The response from both the artists and the audience has been overwhelmingly positive, and we are honored to have facilitated such a meaningful exchange of ideas.

Creative Youth extends its heartfelt thanks to all the participating artists (credited below) and the community that supported Echos: The Art of Preservation. This exhibition is available to view during our public opening hours until Saturday 17 August.

Find Out More Here

Participating Artists:

Neha Jakkampudi

Joey Toogood

Abibat Bonuola

Louise Hapton

Huichuan Wang