From Conversation to Co-Creation
What needs to change for more young people to engage in creative and cultural activities?
Last month’s Coastal Catalyst Knowledge Exchange brought together cultural leaders, educators, youth professionals and young creatives to ask one powerful question:
What needs to change for more young people to engage in creative and cultural activities?
Whether you joined live, tuned in later, or just found your way here through curiosity - thank you for being part of the conversation. You’re helping shape a future where creative potential is seen, supported and celebrated.
Missed the event?
Link here to the recording
Let’s keep the momentum going.
Let’s co-create a Sussex where young people lead, thrive, and shape the creative futures they deserve.
Top Takeaways
These key insights emerged loud and clear – and we’re keeping them front and centre in our work going forward:
Let young people lead
Whether designing projects or shaping pathways, young people thrive when they’re trusted with real responsibility. Co-creation isn’t just a method, it’s a mindset that unlocks voice, confidence and creative agency.
Break down barriers by design
What works? Designing experiences that speak their language and meet their needs – programmes built with relevance, flexibility and care, that meet young people where they are. Sessions also spotlighted the need to remove obstacles like cost, exclusivity, or outdated formats.
Work with, not for
A shift from delivery to collaboration is key. We heard how frameworks that centre listening, shared ownership and long-term relationships make a difference, allowing young people to shape their own career and creative pathway, rather than slotting into someone else’s.
Opportunities should be:
- Responsive
- Autonomous
- Youth/peer led
- Industry aware
- Personalised
- Relevant
And include:
- Room to experiment
- Industry connections
- Access to networking
- Skills-building
- Real responsibility
- Guidance and freedom
These insights directly shape the kind of projects we’re championing through Coastal Catalyst.
Speaker Spotlights
The session featured a brilliant lineup of speakers from across the cultural and creative sectors – each with lived experience and professional expertise in shaping youth-led change:
Daisy Jerome
Apprentice marketer at De La Warr Pavilion and the driving force behind More Culture, a youth-access prototype aiming to become a universal pass across Sussex.
Key insights:
- Youth access through cultural programmes
- Illustration and content creation
- Prototyping for scalable impact
Tiffany Jade Holland
Award-winning music artist, director and project producer, Tiffany shared her journey from participant to leader – building peer-led studios, tours and qualifications.
Key insights:
- Youth voice and representation
- Carving pathways from grassroots to industry
- Organisational collaboration to drive opportunity
Ladajah Wilson FRSA
Youth strategist, creative changemaker and advocate for embedding youth leadership in governance, funding and programme design.
Key insights:
- Creative approaches to youth engagement
- Leadership in programme design and decision-making
- Cross-sector collaboration for inclusive futures
Christoff Taylor
Creative director and co-founder of Young Creators UK, Christoff brings deep experience in media, grassroots mobilisation and building youth-powered cultural networks.
Key insights:
- Building creative infrastructures with young people
- Storytelling and identity through media
- Systemic change through youth entrepreneurship
What’s Next: Building Solutions Workshops
We’re taking the energy of the Knowledge Exchange straight into action with in-person Building Solutions Workshops this summer.
- East Brighton
- Bexhill
- Littlehampton & Bognor Regis
- Newhaven & Eastbourne
We’re in the process of hosting Building Solutions Workshops across local communities on the Sussex coast.
These in-person co-creation sessions bring together educators, youth workers, cultural leaders, and young people to design responsive, place-based projects — with funding available for ideas developed through the workshops.
The next round continues in September - stay tuned and get ready to build new opportunities with us.
Want to take part or support? Email us at info@futurecreators.org.uk