Ignite Social: Young People’s Takeover!

We are the Local Cultural Education Partnership (LCEP) Youth Forum and this month we are taking over the design of the Ignite Social agenda.

As young people living here, we are usually unaware of all the creative and cultural people and events happening around us. We want to celebrate all the creativity in Chelmsford.

We want the LCEP to make these more visible to young people so we can all take part and have a say in what’s happening. Through formal education we are limited by what we learn about career pathways and how we understand this.

It’s important for us to see diverse and nonlinear roots into the industries. We want to highlight different people access the creative industries and how this pathway differs from person to person, and we hope you can join us!

Speakers:

We have asked four Ignite Chelmsford members to talk for 5mins each about their experiences and routes into creative careers:

• Elodie Chousmer-Howelles – BBC Young Musician 2018 string finalist, Elodie made her debut as soloist with The BBC Singers in 2019 . Career highlights include; playing at the 2023 BAFTAs, in an episode of CBBC’s ‘Britain’s Best Young Artist’, and at Battersea Arts Centre with Her Ensemble.

• Leanne Johnson – Professional actor, director, public speaking coach and founder of The Drama Centre – Chelmsford and The Acting Club. With a deep appreciation for the transformative power of theatre, Leanne has dedicated her life to fostering creativity and building a vibrant community.

• Nick Hearne – Internationally-awarded creative director and graphic designer. His path into the upper levels of the creative industries is as non-traditional as the work he makes, for the biggest brands in the world. Expect fun stories about his career adventures and inspiring advice.

Followed by an inspiring national speaker:

• Thomas Harvey – Multidisciplinary designer, artist and arts educator. Thomas’ design brand MMRMS Studio has developed a recognisable handwriting of swooping cut-outs and high-voltage colourways. This unapologetic confidence and queering of hyper-masculine codes see’s the brand showcase its signature cut-out details and sharp playful tailoring.

What to expect

Patch, 5 – 6 Grays Yard, Springfield Rd, Chelmsford, CM2 6QR 7-10pm, Thursday 14th September

• From 7pm – People begin arriving, relaxed music is played.
• 7-7.30pm – Getting drinks and catching up with fellow creatives in the bar space. There are activities such as pens/paper for doodling, and free space and seats in the foyer if you’d prefer.
• 7.30-9pm – People move through to the presentation space, to sit down and hear from the speakers – speakers sit/stand at the front and often use power point presentations. There is a Q&A at the end, giving an opportunity to ask questions of the speakers.
• 9-10pm – Some people choose to leave at 9, others choose to stay to informally catch up further. The bar is open until 10pm.

The bar serves water, tea, coffee, cola / diet cola, beer and red and white wine, we accept card, but don’t normally accept cash.

Image: LCEP Youth Forum

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Photography may be taken at the social to use for Ignite media – please email ku.gro.drofsmlehcetingi@olleh to let us know if you do not want your image used. We are working to make our social events as inclusive, accessible and welcoming as possible. We would love to hear from you any ideas, questions or concerns about attending events and taking part in Ignite. Please contact us on ku.gro.drofsmlehcetingi@olleh.

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Ignite – be part of a thriving creative community in Chelmsford

To stay in the loop on cultural events sign up to the Ignite Chelmsford mailing list – choosing Cultural Forum (Ignite Chelmsford) from the checklist. And follow us on Social media via Facebook and Instagram, or visit our webpage www.IgniteChelmsford.org.uk.

If you work or volunteer in the creative sector – or aspire to – please consider:

• Adding yourself to the Ignite member directory – where you can showcase what you are doing locally and see what others are doing.
• Dropping into the next Ignite online collaborative hub meeting, the fourth Thursday of every month, 12-1.30pm – to share what you are currently working on or thinking about, and to find chances to collaborate and share knowledge.

Image: Cultural Strategy launch, Sandon School performing