Artworks was a paid Community Arts Trainee Programme supporting talented young people from racially minoritised and working-class backgrounds living in Tower Hamlets and Hackney to gain the knowledge, skills and confidence to access careers in the arts sector. Since its launch in 2019, 10 trainees have participated; Rhovie Isiko and Kimberly Johnson completed the final traineeships in late May 2024. Read their story here.
Funded by London Borough of Tower Hamlets and Foundation for Future London, the programme provided employment opportunities for residents from Magic Me’s home borough of Tower Hamlets. The programme had an emphasis on learning through skills development workshops, mentoring, and the opportunity for trainees to deliver their own intergenerational community arts event with support from Magic Me.
Alongside gaining practical experience on our projects, Trainees participated in a workshop programme led by facilitator Lewis Greener, where they gained knowledge of the theory behind participatory arts practice, built skills and confidence and worked towards personal goals.
“I really discovered my passions and dislikes and I’m grateful for the doors it’s opened for me, it’s really given me that head start I needed for my journey in the arts.”
– Nazifa Yazmin, Artworks Trainee
Artworks Alumni
Nazifa Yazmin, 2020
Hamida Begum, Jan Biedrzycki and Shazna Begum, 2022
Chloe Latchford, Isobel Lehr, Maryam Deria, 2023
Yasmin Amin, 2023
Rhovie Isiko and Kimberly Johnson, 2024
Read about the Trainee experience here.
Artworks has been funded by London Borough of Tower Hamlets and Westfield East Bank Creative Futures Fund, supported by Westfield Stratford City and Foundation for Future London.
