Young creatives aged 16 to 24 living in Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets, and Waltham Forest are being given a unique opportunity to help shape the future of two landmark cultural spaces in East London. The V&A East has officially announced that applications will soon open for the next cohort of the V&A East Youth Collective, inviting passionate individuals to leave their mark on the newly established V&A East Museum and V&A East Storehouse.
Applications for the prestigious eight-month programme are scheduled to open on Friday, 16th October 2026, with the application link going live on the official V&A East website on the same day. Prospective applicants must submit their materials by the final deadline of Sunday, 1st November 2026, at 11:59 pm. The initiative seeks to answer a fundamental question: what should a museum and collections space look, feel, and sound like for young people growing up in East London today?
To tackle this question, the institution is assembling a diverse team of curious, creative, and community-minded young people. Successful applicants will work in close collaboration with the V&A East team and commissioned practitioners, playing a direct role in making the V&A East Museum and V&A East Storehouse welcoming, inspiring, and relevant spaces for the younger generations of East London.
Shaping the Cultural Landscape Through Co-Production
The Youth Collective is structured around genuine co-production, serving as a dynamic learning exchange between participants, visiting practitioners, and the museum institution itself. Over the course of the programme, members will take part in a series of creative workshops, immersive trips, and collaborative sessions designed to influence how V&A East welcomes visitors, connects with local communities, and reflects the authentic lived experiences of young people in the surrounding boroughs.
Participants can expect to meet new people, develop their creative skills, and gain invaluable behind-the-scenes insight into careers within the broader cultural sector. The upcoming programme will directly expand upon core themes identified by previous Youth Collective cohorts, tackling complex topics ranging from identity, memory, and belonging to place, access, and decolonisation.
A central focus of this new cohort will be exploring how the institution can embed creative wellbeing and care for young audiences directly into its museum spaces. This collaborative effort will culminate in the production of a tangible creative output, which will be made publicly available to future museum visitors and audiences. Because the programme is tailored closely to project needs, the interests and themes that emerge organically throughout the course will continuously guide its direction.
Programme Structure and Commitment
The intensive programme will run from January through August 2027. Participants will be expected to attend 16 evening meetings held on alternating Thursdays from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm in person in East London. The very first session is scheduled to take place on Thursday, 14th January 2027, at 6:00 pm at the V&A East Storehouse. In addition to the regular Thursday evening gatherings, members will also participate in occasional weekend activities, educational trips, and dedicated days spent exploring the museum grounds and collections.
The initiative is specifically tailored for 12 young people who genuinely reflect the rich diversity of East London. To ensure inclusivity and support participants throughout the process, further details regarding compensation and eligibility—including the requirement that applicants must possess the legal right to work in the UK to receive payment—will be provided when applications officially open.
Roots in East London: The V&A East Venues
The Youth Collective is deeply intertwined with the identity and mission of V&A East, a dynamic two-part cultural destination created as a new branch of the world-renowned Victoria and Albert Museum. Designed to celebrate making and unlock creative possibilities, V&A East is rooted firmly in East London’s rich heritage, focusing heavily on the voices that lead contemporary culture and supporting critical and conceptual learning through active making.
The V&A East Museum, based in Stratford, celebrates the profound power of creativity to drive societal change. Created alongside young people and firmly anchored in the local community’s heritage, the museum explores the forces shaping our modern world through the perspectives of contemporary cultural leaders.
Meanwhile, the V&A East Storehouse, located near the Stratford Waterfront, offers an unprecedented level of public access to material culture. Housing over half a million creative works and collection objects, the Storehouse invites visitors to immerse themselves in a rich tapestry of stories and narratives relevant to any audience through large collection objects and carefully curated displays.
Launch Event and Next Steps
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, 18th October, between 1:00 pm and 5:00 pm at the V&A 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, hands-on risograph printing workshops, short film screenings, and engaging panel talks.
Comprehensive information regarding the specific practitioners leading the upcoming project, along with the official application link, will go live on the V&A East website on Friday, 16th October 2026. Anyone with immediate questions regarding the application process or programme requirements is encouraged to reach out to the engagement team directly via email at [email protected].