Young residents aged 16 to 24 living across Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets, and Waltham Forest are being given a unique opportunity to help shape the future of two of East London’s most ambitious cultural destinations. V&A East has officially announced that applications will soon open for the next cohort of the V&A East Youth Collective, inviting a diverse group of passionate and creative individuals to collaborate directly with museum staff and professional practitioners.
The initiative seeks to answer a fundamental question: what should a museum and collections space look, feel, and sound like for young people in East London? By bringing together a team of curious minds, the institution aims to ensure that both the V&A East Museum and the V&A East Storehouse become genuinely welcoming, inspiring, and relevant environments for the local community. Applications for the prestigious programme will open on Friday, October 16, 2026, with the application link going live on the museum’s official page on that day. The window to apply will close firmly on Sunday, November 1, 2026, at 11:59 pm.
For young people who harbor strong ideas, hold distinct opinions, or simply want to make a tangible difference in their local community, the Youth Collective offers an unparalleled platform. The programme is designed to break down traditional barriers between cultural institutions and the public, placing co-production firmly at the heart of its operations. Rather than acting as passive visitors, participants will work side-by-side with commissioned practitioners to influence how V&A East welcomes visitors, connects with local neighborhoods, and reflects the lived experiences of young people in the area.
Throughout the eight-month programme, participants will take part in a series of creative workshops, collaborative discussions, and organized trips. The curriculum is structured to build upon themes explored by previous Youth Collective cohorts, which ranged from identity, memory, and belonging to place, access, and decolonisation. A central focus for the upcoming cohort will be exploring how the institution can embed creative wellbeing and care for young audiences directly into its physical and conceptual spaces. This collaborative effort will ultimately culminate in a public-facing creative output, ensuring that the participants’ work is shared widely with museum visitors.
The programme has been carefully designed to foster a genuine learning exchange between the young participants, the visiting practitioners, and the institution itself. Rather than following a rigid academic structure, the Youth Collective will adapt to the interests, project needs, and emergent themes that arise as the course progresses. Beyond creative exploration, members can expect to expand their personal networks, develop valuable artistic and practical skills, and gain firsthand insight into the diverse career paths available within the cultural and creative sectors.
The time commitment for the Youth Collective involves attending 16 evening meetings, held on alternating Thursdays from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. These in-person sessions will take place in East London between January and August 2027, beginning with the first official session on Thursday, January 14, 2027, at the V&A East Storehouse. In addition to the regular Thursday evening gatherings, participants will occasionally take part in weekend activities, cultural trips, and dedicated days spent working inside the museum spaces.
To ensure the cohort truly reflects the rich diversity of the surrounding boroughs, the institution is looking to recruit 12 young people who meet the eligibility criteria, including living in one of the four specified East London boroughs. Prospective applicants should also note that to receive payment for their participation, they must possess the legal right to work in the United Kingdom.
The initiative is part of the broader mission of V&A East, a dynamic two-part cultural destination created as a vital new branch of the renowned Victoria and Albert Museum. Designed to celebrate making and unlock creative potential, V&A East comprises two distinct sites rooted deeply in the heritage and contemporary culture of East London. The V&A East Museum, situated in Stratford, focuses on what is shaping our world today by platforming the voices that drive contemporary culture and celebrating the transformative power of creativity. Meanwhile, the V&A East Storehouse, located near the Stratford Waterfront, offers unprecedented public access to over half a million creative works and collection objects, immersing visitors in a vast array of compelling stories and narratives.
For those interested in learning more about the Youth Collective before submitting an application, V&A East is hosting a free public event on Sunday, October 18, from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm at the V&A Storehouse. The event offers prospective applicants a chance to hear directly from alumni of previous V&A East youth engagement programmes, as well as industry practitioners. Attendees can expect to network with peers, participate in risograph printing workshops, watch short film screenings, and listen to engaging panel discussions. Free tickets and additional details for the event can be accessed online.
Comprehensive information regarding the project, including specific details about the commissioned practitioners who will lead the upcoming sessions, will be published on the V&A East website alongside the launch of the application link on Friday, October 16, 2026. Anyone with specific inquiries about the application process or the programme structure is encouraged to reach out to the organizing team via email at [email protected].