ACTION: powering Lambeth’s next generation of creative leaders
Lambeth’s reputation as a hub for creativity and innovation is set to grow, as Stockwell-based arts organisation Art4Space launches ACTION, a three-year programme backed by the Walcot Foundation to support young people aged 16–30 into creative careers, entrepreneurship, and leadership.
Launching this September, ACTION offers three distinct pathways designed to help Lambeth’s diverse young talent thrive:
Make it Happen – a 10-week green-entrepreneurship course where participants design sustainable creative enterprises and pitch their ideas to a business panel, with the chance to secure £100 in start-up funding.
Artist Agency – studio time and professional development led by experienced artists.
Creative Hub – peer-led workshops and drop-in sessions co-designed with youth interns, encouraging resilience, creativity, and collaboration.
Each year of the initiative, Art4Space will work with over 300 young people, and of those youth who take part in ACTION, the desired targeted outcomes are:
- 35 will gain a National Open College Network (NOCN) qualification in Green Skills Sustainability
- 40 will achieve Arts Awards via the Creative Hub
- 120 will progress into employment, education, or volunteering placements with Art4Space or the wider creative community
- 40 will receive tailored mentorship
- 20 will complete mental health resilience awareness training
Julie Norburn, CEO of Art4Space, said:
- ACTION is a co-created initiative developed by listening directly to Lambeth’s young people. We want more young leaders, we’re calling them ‘shapeshifters’, to step into leadership roles and make a real difference in their communities.
ACTION directly supports Lambeth’s Growth Plan missions, by nurturing the skills, confidence, and leadership of the borough’s next generation. The focus on green entrepreneurship reflects Lambeth’s commitment to building a fairer, greener economy, while providing clear pathways into work and enterprise aligns with our mission to create inclusive opportunities for all.
Cllr Marcia Cameron, Cabinet Member for Inclusive Economy and Equalities at Lambeth Council, said:
- We’re proud to support Art4Space in helping us bring Lambeth’s Growth Plan to life, creating purposeful, creative opportunities that empower young people and celebrate the strengths of our communities. Their inclusive, community-rooted work reflects the kind of innovation and local talent we’re committed to championing as we build a fairer, more vibrant economy for everyone in Lambeth.
Art4Space has been a driving force in Lambeth’s creative sector since 1999, empowering over 5,000 young people through inclusive arts programmes, training, and enterprise opportunities. With ACTION, they’re taking that mission even further, helping to shape the future economy of Lambeth, powered by creativity, sustainability, and community.