LONDON — Young residents aged 16 to 24 living across Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets, and Waltham Forest are being offered a unique opportunity to directly influence the development of one of the capital’s most anticipated cultural initiatives. The V&A East is officially opening applications for the next cohort of its Youth Collective, inviting passionate and creative individuals to help shape the identity, atmosphere, and community engagement strategies of its upcoming sites in East London.
The call to action comes as the institution prepares to open its application window on Friday, 16th October 2026. Aspiring participants will have until Sunday, 1st November 2026, at 11:59 PM to submit their applications via the V&A East website, where the link will go live on the opening day.
The initiative poses a fundamental question to the younger generation of East London: What should a museum and collections space look, feel, and sound like for young people today? To answer this, the institution is assembling a diverse team of curious, creative, and community-minded young individuals to work hand-in-hand with the V&A East team and commissioned practitioners. Together, the cohort will collaborate to ensure that both the V&A East Museum and the V&A East Storehouse are welcoming, inspiring, and culturally relevant spaces for the youth of East London.
Organisers are emphasizing that applicants do not need prior museum experience; rather, they are looking for young people with fresh ideas, strong opinions, and a genuine desire to make a tangible difference in their local communities.
Inside the Youth Collective Programme
Selected participants will embark on an immersive eight-month journey starting in January 2027. The programme is designed to be a dynamic learning exchange between the participants, professional practitioners, and the institution itself, with co-production placed firmly at the heart of the project.
Throughout the course of the programme, members of the Youth Collective will take part in a series of collaborative creative workshops, behind-the-scenes visits, and cultural trips. They will be tasked with influencing how V&A East welcomes visitors, connects with local communities, and reflects the authentic lived experiences of young people in the surrounding boroughs. Alongside these developmental opportunities, participants can expect to network with peers, hone their creative skills, and gain invaluable insights into careers within the broader cultural and heritage sector.
The curriculum for the upcoming cohort will build directly upon the foundational themes established by previous Youth Collective groups. These earlier discussions centered heavily on complex topics such as identity, memory, belonging, place, access, and decolonisation. Building on this legacy, the new cohort will be invited to explore how the institution can effectively embed creative wellbeing and active care for young audiences into its public spaces.
This collaborative exploration will culminate in the production of a tangible creative output, which will be shared publicly with museum audiences. Furthermore, the programme structure remains intentionally flexible, adapting to project needs and allowing emerging interests and themes to continuously steer the direction of the initiative.
Commitment and Schedule
The Youth Collective will meet in person across East London for 16 evening sessions. Meetings are scheduled to take place on alternate Thursdays from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, running between January and August 2027. The very first session is scheduled for Thursday, 14th January 2027, at 6:00 PM, hosted 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 experiencing and evaluating the museum spaces. Organisers note that to receive payment for participation, candidates must possess the legal right to work in the United Kingdom.
A Dynamic Cultural Destination in East London
The recruitment drive forms part of the broader mission of V&A East, a dynamic two-part cultural destination established as a new branch of the world-renowned Victoria and Albert Museum. Designed to celebrate making and foster creative possibilities, the initiative aims to support critical and conceptual learning through hands-on creation, remaining deeply rooted in the rich heritage of East London while elevating contemporary cultural voices.
The V&A East Museum, located in Stratford, is dedicated to celebrating the power of making and creativity to drive social change. Developed in close collaboration with young people, the museum explores the forces shaping our modern world through the perspectives of those leading contemporary culture.
Complementing the museum is the V&A East Storehouse, situated nearby on the Stratford Waterfront. This innovative public facility houses more than half a million creative works and collection objects, making them publicly accessible to all visitors. Featuring a series of large-scale collection objects and specially curated displays, the Storehouse promises to immerse visitors in a rich tapestry of stories and historical narratives relevant to diverse audiences.
Launch Event and Further Information
For those interested in learning more before submitting an application, V&A East is hosting a free public event on Sunday, 18th October, from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM at the V&A East Storehouse. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear directly from alumni of previous V&A East youth engagement programmes and field practitioners. The afternoon will feature networking opportunities, risograph printmaking workshops, short film screenings, and engaging panel talks.
Further details regarding the project, including comprehensive profiles of the commissioned practitioners leading the initiative, will be published on the official V&A East website when applications officially open on Friday, 16th October 2026. Prospective applicants with questions regarding the application process or programme requirements can reach out to the engagement team directly via email.