A massive congratulations to the LYC cohort of 2025: adrien châtelain, Cassie Riches, Freya Hutchins, Jacob "Cash" Green, Jake Helliwell, Lillian Waddington, Lori Asha, luicea lilleum, Macy Byfield, Mark Lasleanu, Nay Concannon, OCARINA (Ocean Rao DSouza), Savannah Lovelidge, Silquil (Jolie McCallum), Vee Grealish, and Wakisa Chikhungu. 

Their showcase Beyond The Barrier, saw the young creatives show exciting new work created during Lighthouse Young Creatives (LYC) programme.

Over six months of exploration and experimentation, they have pushed artistic boundaries, developing work that challenges perspectives and celebrates every form of creative expression.

The show grappled with themes of free will and self-expression, internal landscapes and identity, nature and decay, masculinity and media consumption, connection and chaos, and beyond. Through a diverse range of mediums—including short films, photography, music, games, drag, VR installations, writing, and sketchbooks—each piece reflected the unique voices and lived experiences of artists who are breaking through barriers in the creative industries.

Lighthouse Young Creatives empowers young people (aged 16-25) from underrepresented backgrounds to launch their careers in the arts. Beyond The Barrier is a testament to their talent, resilience, and vision for the future.

🎨 Artwork for Beyond The Barrier coordinated and designed by Freya Hutchins @freyaswall and 📸 headshots (excluding Lori's) by Cassie Riches @riches_of_the_eye, both part of Lighthouse Young Creatives 2024-25 cohort.

Some highlights from our Artistic Director and CEO Alli Beddoe’s speech from the live sharing of Beyond The Barrier:

"First and foremost, I want to say a huge well done to our Lighthouse Young Creatives. You’ve worked so hard, and this showcase is a testament to your talent, dedication, and creativity. I also want to extend a warm welcome to all of you here and to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has helped make this possible.

Lighthouse exists to find, nurture, and showcase underrepresented, new, emerging, and established creatives who use digital technology. We do this through talent development programmes, mentorship, and commissioning projects that break new ground. It’s absolutely brilliant to see you all here tonight.

We first developed Lighthouse Young Creatives back in 2018 for young people aged 16 to 25, and we are now in our fifth programme. It’s a six-month talent development initiative, but what makes it truly special is that it was designed with the young people who took part. They knew exactly what was missing, what barriers they faced, and what support they needed. They were the ones standing at the foot of the mountain.

And we all know that mountain. The one that appears when you start thinking about leaving education, trying to find work, making your voice heard, discovering who you are, and figuring out where you belong. I remember it well. Thirty years ago, when I was in that position, it felt like there were very few paths to take. There was no clear map to guide the way.

Today, that mountain is even bigger. Steeper. Slippery. Overwhelming. The support systems that once existed have been suspended, reduced, or cut entirely. The demand for the few that remain is greater than ever.

Lighthouse Young Creatives exists because the current systems for young people in this age group are broken. Accessing in-person expertise is tough. Finding creative spaces where young people can meet, collaborate, and share their work is even tougher. Without financial security, unpaid work experience isn’t an option, and building an independent creative practice takes resources, time, and connections. As a result, many talented young creatives remain underrepresented in our city’s creative industries, making them less diverse, less inclusive, and less accessible. And that’s why we are here. To change that.

We believe in art. It’s at the core of who we are. It helps us understand the world, tell our stories, and express our struggles, joys, and dreams. Whether it’s music, film, photography, poetry, or digital worlds, art has the power to connect us. In 2020, when the world shut down, what did we turn to? Art. Stories. Creativity. It’s what sustains us. But it’s also what shape industries, fuels innovation, and creates careers like nothing else can.

And so, this is the beginning. A new chapter. A fresh start for these incredible creatives. This is just the first step, and I couldn’t be more excited about what comes next. I’m committed to breaking down barriers, sharing the tools that help young creatives climb that mountain, and I invite you all to join me in this mission.

They say, “it takes a village,” but in this case, it takes a city.

To our LYC cohort—thank you for being part of this programme, for showing up every week, for bringing your ideas, energy, and brilliance into this space. Once you’re part of Lighthouse, you’re part of the family, and we’ll always be here for you.

To the incredible LYC mentors Sarah Brownlow, Abraham Moughrabi, Callum Johnston and Maf’J Alvarez for the care and dedication you bring and make magic happen.

Specialists who ran masterclasses: Emma Frankland, Ivan Weiss, Rory and Lydia from  Baxter & Bailey, Simon James, Scarlett Fae, Myra Appannah from BRiGHTBLACK, Laurie Bassam from Brighton Museum. 

To our awesome Lighthouse team—Tom, Lucie, Bobby, Niamh, Monica, Emma (who, by the way, is celebrating 20 years at Lighthouse today!), Lewis who's been supporting tech set up and our phenomenal LYC programme drivers, Luka and Sian—thank you for making this programme run like a well-oiled machine.

To those who’ve documented our work: Cassie Riches (who is in this LYC cohort), Nuria Castro and Liam Rooney.

To our Trustees and Future Creative Leaders who put forward their time and expertise—we couldn’t do this without you.

To The Rose Hill, who have provided a space to make, learn and become a creative community. And to CFI Media for all your support, expertise and knowledge. 

To our funders, Henry Smith Foundation, Chalk Cliff Trust, and Sussex Community Foundation —thank you for making this work possible.

And to our business sponsors who invest in this programme with funding and mentorship— Baxter & Bailey, Cogapp, Storythings, and our hero sponsors MPB, who also provide high-end camera equipment—thank you for your invaluable support."

Lighthouse Young Creatives is a personal and professional development scheme for young people in Brighton & Hove aged 16-25 who aspire to work in the creative industries but face exclusion through lack of access and barriers to participation.

First launched in 2018, the scheme equips participants with the skills, confidence and connections they need to enhance their employability, entrepreneurship and future career prospects through a six-month programme of production skills training, business development support, mentoring, showcasing and networking.

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