The Young Producers Programme will offer a group of young people aged 16-29 the chance to get experience in producing as we hand over the reins for Homegrown Festival.

Interested in applying but not sure what to expect? We chat to alumni and freelance arts producer Ben who took part in spring 2016 to find out what he’s been up to since taking part.

What skills did you learn as part of Young Producers?

As I came from being a full-time hairdresser, I learnt a lot of skills! The programme introduced me to all the fundamental aspects of producing an arts event, including marketing, budgeting and artist liaison and allowed me to use these skills in a real-life situation of producing events for Homegrown Festival. I also got to meet and work with a group of lovely and inspirational creative people!

What was your favourite experience?

My favourite experience was producing an open-space event for Vaults Festival… And of course our whole building takeover party!

Do you feel the programme has made an impact on where you are with your career today?

100% yes. Being part of the programme made me realise what career I want to change to. A group of us have continued working with each other and have formed our own producing group, YoPro Collective and we have been lucky enough to produce with some leading London arts venues and have lots of plans for 2017. I’ve also been lucky enough to carry on working at Battersea Arts Centre as Assistant Producer on the Create Course.

> Applications for Young Producers 2017 close on 2 Dec 2016. Find out more about the programme.