Lighthouse Young Creatives (LYC) FAQ's
Who is the programme for?
LYC is for young people aged 16-25 from Brighton & Hove, who want to work in the creative industries but face difficulties in doing so due to personal challenges and systemic barriers.
This eligibility criteria exists to make sure we’re helping to increase access to the creative industries.
These barriers might include, but are not limited to:
Low income and/or from a low income or working class household
Struggling to engage with formal education or training
Unemployment or under-employment
Unstable housing
Drug or alcohol misuse
Gender
Disabilities
Ethnicity
Neurodiversity
Care leavers
Young carers
Other identified barriers
What do you do in the sessions?
There will be weekly creative sessions throughout the 6 months in which you work on your projects, or collaborate on other participants' projects. The sessions are relaxed and informal, and will be as productive as you want them to be. There are also sessions throughout the 6 months which are creative masterclasses, lunches, business sessions, and cultural trips or visits, instead of the regular creative sessions. These sessions can still include check ins and updates with your mentors.
When does it run?
Every Wednesday, 12:30 - 4:30pm
Wednesday 2 October 2024 - Wednesday 18 December 2024
Winter break - two weeks
Wednesday 8 January 2025 - Wednesday 26 March 2025
Showcase Thursday 20 March - Sunday 30 March 2025
What if I can’t make some of the dates?
Don’t worry if you can’t make all of the dates! We ask for participants to commit to the programme and attend 75% of the sessions - wherever possible. Of course there are always times when there are circumstances you may not be able to attend, and that’s okay. We will be flexible but we trust that participants will try their best to commit to attending the programme as places on the programme are limited.
Where is it?
The first two sessions will be held at the Lighthouse Project Space with the rest will be held at The Rose Hill.
Do you provide food?
We don’t provide lunch, but we do provide some free snacks, plus access to water, and hot drinks. You are welcome to bring your own food and to eat during the session. Sometimes, we have group lunches as part of the programme, you do not have to participate in this if you don’t want to. When we have a group lunch, Lighthouse provides the food, and we cater to dietary requirements.
Is it a qualification?
LYC is not an academic qualification, there are no tests, exams or expected outputs. The programme is informal and shaped by you, and success will look different for every participant. There is no pressure to have a finished project by the end of the programme.
Do we have to do work outside of the weekly sessions?
This is up to you and depends on the scope of your project. If you have an ambitious project, you will likely want to spend time on it outside of the sessions. This way, your time with the mentors can be more beneficial for you in progressing with your project. However, if you have a smaller project, are mostly collaborating on other people’s projects, or it’s one that suits being worked on in the sessions themselves, then it will make most sense for you to do most of your creative work during the sessions. Not everyone does work outside the sessions, but you might find it helpful to do so. Ultimately, it’s about what works best for you to make the most of your time on the programme with our support.
Do you pay participants / do participants have to pay?
We don’t pay participants and the programme is free to participate.
We can offer support with travel to sessions with bus tickets and can offer some access support - please enquire if this is something you need support with.
We allocate a £200 budget for every participant to spend on their practice/project - Lighthouse will pay upfront for this expenditure, we don’t give the budget money directly to participants.
Who are the mentors?
Sarah Brownlow - Photographer, skate coach and lead mentor
Abraham Moughrabi - Producer, venue manager, and music mentor
Maf’j Alvarez - Immersive media artist, creative technologist, and digital media mentor
Callum Johnston - Director, producer, and filmmaking mentor
Who has been on the programme before?
If you would like to get to know last year's cohort and read about the creative projects they completed during the programme, visit the online showcase page here.
When will I find out if I have got on the programme?
Applicants will hear if they were successful by Monday 23 September.
How do you decide who gets on the programme from applications?
Applications are reviewed based on a balance of the individual's need and suitability for the programme, as well as how the mentors and programme will be able to best serve and support the creative interests and aspirations of the individual. We try to create a group that is diverse and includes different interests and creative areas and different levels of skill and ability so that there is a good balance of creative areas amongst participants to encourage collaborations and to match with our mentors.
Do you reimburse for travel costs?
We can provide bus tickets for all participants to attend the sessions.
Are the venues on the programme accessible?
Lighthouse Project Space - We have step-free access just to the left of our space. The step-free ramp is 1 metre wide, after the ramp you reach a blue door please use the ‘Lighthouse’ doorbell, one of the team will come to let you in and you will then go through a door that is 34 in / 86.5cm wide and after that another door in to the space that is 33.5 in / 85cm wide. There is an accessible toilet in the space on the same floor. We have one accessible parking space that must be booked in advance.
The Rose Hill - We have a ramp at the front, but unfortunately we regret that due to the limitations of the building, the existing toilets and downstairs studios are not currently wheelchair accessible.
How do you support access needs?
We will work with participants to develop a personal access plan to accommodate their needs wherever possible.
Do you ask for proof of underrepresentation?
No
What's the difference between Lighthouse Young Creatives and Future Creative Leaders?
Future Creative Leaders (FCL) is a 12-month paid programme. It offers young creatives from underrepresented backgrounds the opportunity to work closely with Lighthouse's leadership team to explore various aspects of creative leadership. The programme extends beyond the existing Lighthouse Young Creatives programme, reimagining the Lighthouse workforce, and is aimed towards 20-30 year olds.
Can I study online? Or does it have to be in-person?
We ask that participants commit to 75% of the in person sessions and we can accommodate occasional online check-ins.
What happens after the programme? / Do you provide jobs after the programme?
Our LYC alumni remain a vital part of our community. Many past participants have found additional work and development opportunities through Lighthouse. For example, some alumni worked as photographers and videographers documenting our BDF 2021 programme, while others were commissioned by Lighthouse & Historic England to create the film "Carrying Us." and have worked on a variety of projects and events as speakers, hosts, evaluators, invigilators and writers. Additionally, some alumni have gone on to participate in our Future Creative Leaders programme, where they help shape the artistic direction of our organisation.
I am a little shy, do we have to talk much during sessions? What about presentations?
Although we encourage active participation in each session, there is no expectation to talk or present if you do not feel comfortable. We hope that as you get to know us and the space, communicating in sessions will become easier, but we know that new things and new environments can be uncomfortable, especially to start with.
How many people do you choose from the applications?
Up to 15
Do you accept late applications?
No
