Hi Germaine, tell us a bit about yourself
My name is Germaine Malcolm aka Germaine Marvel, I’m 29 and I’m a musician, a poet, a performance artist and now a young producer. When I’m not planning parts of the Homegrown Festival I’ve been looking at how philosophy, science and art meet, with meditation, placebos and the art of death thrown in.

How are you finding the Young Producers programme so far?
I applied for the Young Producers course because I wanted to develop some new skills, meet new people and see show-business from a different angle. The whole experience has been challenging, stretching, frightening and exciting. I’ve learnt a lot and met a diverse and like-minded blend of people, both those taking part in the course and those leading us through.

Great! What have you been working on?
I’m part of the BAC Beatbox Academy and we’ll be performing with the Homegrown Festival Party on the 8th and at the Showcase on the 9th. In addition to this, I’m part of the Pick N’ Mix producer team.

Is there anything you can reveal about Pick ‘n’ Mix?
What I will say is that we’re planning an immersive journey through a number of rooms and art forms, which will be led by a host of young, upcoming artists. It’s going to be a real mixed bag…

> Find out more about the Young Producers programme

> See this year’s Homegrown Festival line-up , 4 – 9 April

Hi Joshua, tell us a bit about yourself
I’m currently a Marketing & Audience Development Officer at the Gate Theatre. Although I come from an arts marketing background I’ve been thinking a lot about getting closer to making art happen, in particular making work with queer and BAMER artists.

Why did you want to get involved in the Young Producers programme?
I’ve been wanting to sit in on rehearsals, to read more scripts and to have conversations with directors and creatives – but these things seemed inaccessible to me because I don’t know many people in London and have never studied in the performing arts (also artists seem to not trust marketers!). Becoming a producer seemed like a logical step for me, but I felt clueless and unequipped to make this happen until I found the Young Producers programme and got accepted.

How are you finding the programme so far?
I’m stoked to be a part of Young Producers, I love Battersea Arts Centre as a community-powered art space and the programme has given me the access I’ve needed to other like-minded people who want to impact the arts.

I moved to London from Australia about a year ago now and was finding it so frustrating not getting accepted into arts jobs or training opportunities; now I’m surrounded by such an amazing mix of young people and we’re all learning together. I’m mostly excited about receiving mentoring and getting practical experience.

Great! What have you been working on?
I’m working on the Homegrown Festival Party and am taking over one of the spaces inside Battersea Arts Centre to programme a queer art and performance showcase. I love the idea of these artists creating work inside a 125 year-old, historic community building.

Is there anything you can reveal about your plans for the party?
Expect rebellious energy, a smorgasbord of artistic experiences, and undiscovered talent.

> Find out more about the Young Producers programme

> See this year’s Homegrown Festival line-up , 4 – 9 April

Hi Divya, tell us a bit about yourself
I’m an Events Management graduate but I have always been hugely passionate about performance making and attending arts events.

Why did you want to want to join the Young Producers programme?
Young Producers really sparked my interest as I was attracted to the idea of working with different types of artists and being able to produce and curate an arts festival. It seemed like the perfect opportunity to get some real hands-on experience in an arts organisation and get my creative juices flowing!

Great! How are you finding the course so far?
I’m finding the programme content and all the knowledge that we’re getting from the tutors, Rose and Lara, as well as all the guest speakers, really useful. Meeting with BAC’s Artistic Director David Jubb was particularly inspiring for me and really gave me the motivation to move forward with my ideas.

Before starting the programme I didn’t realise how much freedom and creative ownership we would have over the work we produced (as long as it fits in with the budget of course), which is great!

It’s also been really refreshing to meet such a diverse bunch of creatives from all walks of life. I think we are all learning from each other as much as we are learning from the programme and we have definitely made some friends for life.

What have you all been working on?
So far, we have split off in to two teams to produce our show Pick n’ Mix and the Homegrown Festival Party, using Battersea Arts Centre’s working model of ‘Scratch’ as our basis for generating and testing ideas.

We’ve had masterclasses in arts marketing, artist liaison and project planning, with the guidance of last year’s Young Producers who formed YoPro Collective and other industry-experienced mentors.

At the moment we’re in the process of ironing out how the event will look aesthetically, sound and feel, as well as programming in artists, working out the logistics of the event and the challenges that will come with simultaneously running activities across the building.

Good luck! Is there anything you can reveal about your plans for Homegrown Festival?
Without giving too much away, we will be welcoming audiences to immerse themselves into an evening of rebellious art with fresh new voices taking centre stage. The BAC Beatbox Academy will be joining us along with a diverse line-up of wonderful talent.

> Find out more about the Young Producers programme

> See this year’s Homegrown Festival line-up , 4 – 9 April

Not for me, not for you, but for us

We have been inspired by the Royal and Derngate in Northampton who are shaping plans for a new arts-led secondary school. By the Fun Palace movement enabling hundreds of grassroots projects led by local communities. By 64 Million Artists asking everyone in Britain to sign up to their January creative challenge. By The Agency in Manchester and Battersea leading change in their communities. By Agents of Creative Change who are using creativity to tackle real challenges.

Creating space for everyone

We have been inspired by Haworth Tompkins who are architects with a difference. They’re up for sharing the authorship of the buildings they create and we are very grateful for the careful, sensitive way they have gone about reshaping Battersea’s former Town Hall, opening it up as an accessible space. By the four artists from outside London who have designed eight bedrooms for visiting companies. By the couples who have tied the knot here for the first time since the fire and by everyone who has continued to stand with us as we work towards re-opening the Grand Hall in 2018.

People came together for London Stories: Made By Migrants

We have been inspired by the storytellers who shared their powerful true stories of coming to London and making a home, including 10 amazing Homegrowners, in this new BAC Moving Museum project. It is because of them that the show was chosen as one of the Observer’s top 10 shows of 2016 and raised over £2000 for the South London Refugee Association. We look forward to continuing our journey with the storytellers in 2017, including a film of London Stories.

Artists on the small screen

We have been inspired by Jeremy Deller and his brilliant film for BBC4 describing the We Are Here project. By Kate Tempest and her incredible new epic poem, story, album and uproar, Let Them Eat Chaos. By all the artists who are planning new digital collaborations for Performance Live working with BBC and Arts Council England. By our very own Beatbox Academy who soared to new heights on Gareth Malone’s The Choir.

Creative risks around the country

We have been inspired by producers in Medway, Wigan and Peterborough who joined the Collaborative Touring Network with Gloucester, Darlington, Hull, Thanet and Torbay, delivering year-round cultural programmes. By six Creative Museums who have creatively involved their visitors and local communities in bringing their collections to life. By everyone everywhere who has been working to highlight that, together, we have #MoreInCommon.

We speak to Audain about his highlights on the trip and what he learnt as part of the experience.

How did you prepare for your trip to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe?

I received an email with the subject ‘Mum’s Tips from Bethany’. It was very detailed and explained the things we needed to bring in order to be comfortable and well equipped for the weather. One of the many pieces of advice I received from the producing team was to download the Fringe App. This app is a lifesaver, if you log onto the app and click “Now” it gives you shows that will start either in 30 mins to an hours’ time.

How would you describe the Fringe to someone who has never been?

The Fringe is a place for artists to showcase bold and innovative work. Experimental, punchy, anything you want in performing arts, you name it and it’ll be there. The city doesn’t sleep; you can see shows as late as 1am in the morning. Crazy I know! This is the beauty of the Fringe Festival.

What surprised you about your visit?

The vast diversity of content was just astonishing.

What were your highlights from your time at the Fringe?

Growth, by Luke Norris was the best show for me. I even bought a copy of the play. From the start to the very end of the show you are filled with laughter, everyone is aware of the subject theme about testicular cancer, but it wasn’t lecturing us or forcing anything on us, it was just subtle. With witty dialogue and amazing punch lines Growth has won me over.

What do you think you have learned from your experience?

I had a fantastic time with a bunch of amazing people who I could share ideas and thoughts on shows that we find interesting and, of course, the ones we didn’t. The Battersea Arts Centre producing team are not only knowledgeable but create an environment for artists and employees to be comfortable and to work side by side as equals.

Final thoughts?

I would like to attend the festival again but stay a bit longer. I was inspired by a lot of the work I saw which has lead me to start building a show of my own to take to the Fringe. Now I have begun a new journey to push myself as an artist and to see whether I can make it in that world.

> To find out more information about how you can take part in the scheme, or to register your interest in supporting a young person to attend Edinburgh 2017 email [email protected]

> You can read more about why we initiated the Fringe Firsts scheme from David Jubb’s blog ‘Opening Up the Edinburgh Fringe Experience for Everyone’.

We catch up with Dee who shares the highlights of her trip and what she learnt as part of the experience.

How did you prepare for your trip to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe?

The staff at Battersea Arts Centre organised sessions for me and Audain to come into the office and organise our timetables before we left to ensure that we had a clear idea of what shows we wanted to go and see. Bethany, a producer and our mentor, gave us both Edinburgh Fringe programmes for our own personal use so we could familiarize ourselves with the city before we arrived. A lot of the staff who had already visited the fringe gave us really interesting show recommendations for us to research and tips and advice.

How would you describe the Fringe to someone who has never been?

The Edinburgh Fringe is a yearly event which celebrates artists from all over the world and unites them together under one hub. Work is welcomed from a range of different backgrounds and disciplines, so it’s pretty much impossible to get bored as there is always something happening and something for everyone.

What surprised you about your visit?

There were so many shows to choose from at the fringe, it was mind-blowing. I was really astonished at how so many artists at the fringe really put their heart on the line and made the brave decision to showcase their work, a lot of which was controversial, unique, thought provoking and innovative.

What were your highlights from your time at the Fringe?

Tongue Fu was definitely the best spoken word night that I experienced whilst at the Edinburgh Fringe. Chris Redmond is an absolute genius for creating Tongue Fu- where guest poets come on stage and perform alongside an improvised house band. It’s very unique in its approach and there is no other poetry night quite like it.
Amy Leon, a guest singer/poet from Brooklyn New York, is undoubtedly one of the most talented souls I have crossed paths with in a long-time. She had an incredible voice and a captivating stage presence, her style reminds me of an old school jazz poet.

What do you think you have learned from your experience?

I learnt a lot in regards to audience engagement, performance and what works and what doesn’t work at the fringe, simply from watching and observing the performers in their space and talking with people in the queues and in the audience.

I managed to speak to some of the performers directly after their shows, using this as a window of opportunity to ask them about their thought processes and creating and bringing their ideas to life, some of which I hope to apply to my own personal knowledge in order to enhance my practice.

I was really inspired and moved by some of the performers and writers at the Fringe and it made me think, that when the time is right I will possibly bring some of my own work up to the Fringe one day.

Final thoughts?

I had a fantastic time at Edinburgh Fringe and feel that the experience has definitely contributed to my development as an artist. I feel that my writing skills and my confidence have also improved and I am very lucky to have made some amazing new connections. I also feel that my time with the producing team has made me better at voicing my opinion in a group of people and really analysing what it is that I am trying to say.

> You can read more about why we initiated the Fringe Firsts scheme from David Jubb’s blog ‘Opening Up the Edinburgh Fringe Experience for Everyone’.

> To find out more information about the scheme or to register your interest in supporting a young person to attend Edinburgh 2017 email [email protected]

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. 

During the process, we went to the Marx Memorial Library, the British Library and Manchester, where we visited Contact Theatre and The People’s History Museum. Travelling together allowed us to grow as a group; we had a lot of discussions between us, most of which touched on political issues that are often seen as things that young people are not interested in, or that what they contribute to the discussion isn’t relevant.  It was inspiring for me as one of the older members of the group to see other young people talking about these issues and challenging the groups and their own perceptions.

We researched and pulled apart speeches from John Archer, the first ‘coloured man’ to be elected as Mayor of Battersea, Annie Besant, an activist who stood up for and promoted the struggle of the Match Stick Girls, and John Burns, a politician who worked to get better housing and living conditions for the working class around the Latchmere Estate. As well as the historical content, we also wrote our own material drawn from our own experiences- from soliloquy’s about working in McDonalds, to back-facing monologues about being put into isolation at school, and my very own ‘Letter To The Prime Minister’.

The performance was one of the highlights; sharing the work on stage after everything we had learnt felt exhilarating, and the Homegrown Festival was a perfect space for this as other young people were in the building and got to see our work and participate in the discussion. Our preparations at Carney’s were great; at the start we were using one of the rooms, playing drama games,and mulling over ideas and concepts, and after a while the show really came together. In our last rehearsals we utilised the physical boxing ring at Carney’s. It felt like the space had been opened up to us. It felt homely.

Each of our performances were filled with audiences young and old and from a variety of backgrounds. We received amazing feedback and praise, and I am so grateful to Battersea Art’s Centre, Carney’s Community, Heritage Lottery Fund and The Wandsworth Arts Fringe Festival for giving us the opportunity to share and create this work. Devising something like this was important as it allowed us to contribute our ideas to create something that felt refreshing to be a part of.

The main thing I have taken away from this project is this:

Young people have something important to say. If given the platform, the space and the opportunity, we will share, and you will listen.

“Young Producers has helped me develop my creative skills and learn more about theatre outside of performing – I loved it!”