Our support for STEP illustrates our mission to connect east London’s creative talent to world class cultural institutions and our East Bank partners.
We are proud to partner with A New Direction through Create Jobs, London Legacy Development Corporation, and the London Boroughs of Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest by supporting STEP into Smithsonian, a programme which provides young east Londoners an immersive three-week experience at the world’s largest museum and East Bank partner, the Smithsonian Institution.
STEP Into the Smithsonian is a creative development programme for young people between Washington D.C. and East London. The programme ran over a six week period from May to June 2019. While in the USA, four trainees aged aged 18-30 years old visited many of the Smithsonian’s museums and research centres, exploring a diversity of topics including; photography and print, graphic design, African American history, popular culture, natural history, global art forms and much more.
Since its founding in 1846, the Smithsonian Institution has been committed to inspiring generations through knowledge and discovery. This unique experience will support the Smithsonian in their mission to develop the next generation of talent for the sector, as well as providing an unrivalled creative job opportunity for young east London talent.
“STEP into the Smithsonian is a unique opportunity to learn how to apply my background in anthropology in a more practical way. I think museums are beautiful because they open up academic fields, like anthropology, to everyone. I want to develop my curatorial practice, building on my existing background in arts festival production.”
Mohammed Rahman, STEP intern
Read Mohammed’s blog here
“STEP into the Smithsonian will provide me with invaluable experience and networking opportunities, as well as the chance to develop my ideas. I’m looking forward to bringing what I’ve learnt about culture in the USA back to East London, using this to influence and improve my community here.”
Chess Charles, STEP intern