A massive congratulations to the LYC cohort of 2026: Ava Aubrey Conboy, Barney Moseley, Benjahni aka Ben Fry, Ethan Evans-Jesra, Frankie McCauley, Imogen Kiely, Jane Marlton-Howard, Leyla Abulhawa, Maeve Watts, Mickey Smith, Olivia Fleming, Rahul Naik, Three Milne, and Vanessa Chang.

Their showcase Myriad, saw the young creatives show exciting new work created during Lighthouse Young Creatives (LYC) programme. Myriad consisted of a showcase at The Old Market and a nine day exhibition at Lighthouse.

Over six months, these artists didn't just produce work; they built a community. Myriad was a testament to the power of providing space for exploration, experimentation, and, most importantly, the reclamation of voice.

The show confronted themes of self-expression, mythology, the neurodiverse experience, alternative music cultures, personal family dynamics, world building and beyond. Through a diverse range of mediums—including but not limited to, short films, photography, music, video games, writing, installation, and graphic design. From Ava’s interactive "Mysticalyria" videogame to Benjahni’s exploratory installation and film about neurodiversity, each piece reflected the unique voices and lived experiences of artists who are breaking through barriers in the creative industries.

One of the most inspiring takeaways from Myriad was the dissolution of the "lone artist" archetype. The collaboration was seamless: Ethan’s documentaries archived the DIY scenes his peers were building, while Vanessa’s “Artivist Haven” provided a framework for others to find their footing in the industry. Jane’s documentation of rally culture and Mickey’s acting in Barney’s film “Martha’s Boys” showed that art is at its best when it is a shared experience.

The energy of the live showcase at The Old Market added a layer of raw performance that brought these digital and physical works to life. Watching Community Service perform their first-ever gig underscored a core theme of the programme: bravery.

As we look back on the week at Lighthouse and the night at The Old Market, it is clear that these voices aren't just the future; they are the necessary, vibrant present.

They are still here. And they are just getting started.

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

🎨 Artwork for Myriad coordinated and designed by Lighthouse Young Creatives 2025-26 participant Three Milne @MoreThanThree_

Some highlights from the speech given at the launch of Myriad, by our Artistic Director and CEO Alli Beddoes and Head of Programme, Sian Habell-Aili.

"Lighthouse turns 40 this year - which is a bit of a milestone by any standards. Many of you in this room will have experienced us in various forms. We’ve evolved a lot over the years - but at our heart we’ve always been a place for artists to experiment and find support. 

LYC has been running since 2018 - and a programme like this should not be a luxury - it’s a necessity. We live in a city that calls itself 'creative,' but the space for young people to actually be creative, without any strings attached, is shrinking every day.

We want Brighton to stay creative - we also want it to change and shake off some weighty - clunky - burdens that no longer serve us - and we want young people to shape what that looks like, and lead the way.

Tonight, you’re going to see exactly why that matters. 14 artists are taking to this stage to share their talents, creations and processes and ideas. These are the people this city needs to support and platform and employ!

I need to shout out the people who make this all happen: 

Our expert mentors: Callum, Myra, Simon, Sarah, Kassia, and Abraham. Some of you have been on this journey since the start, some of you have joined this year and brought your uplifting, unfiltered energy - you are physically helping us hold the door open - and the generosity you pour into this programme and these artists is felt on a deep deep level. Thank you.

Huge thanks also to our masterclass leaders: Emma Frankland, Scarlett Fae, Ruth Jarman, Jacob Hunter, Ivan Weiss and Sammy from Baxter & Bailey. 

To those who’ve documented our work: Cassie Riches and Nuria Castro 

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

The dedicated, tireless team at Lighthouse: Alli, Sian, Tom, Bobby, Niamh, Monica, Lena and Kizzie! 

And to our funders and supporters:  MPB, CogApp, Baxter and Bailey, Chalk Cliff Trust, Sussex Community Foundation, Henry Smith Foundation, Innovate UK, Big Give  The Rose Hill, CFI Media, The Old Market and BHASVIC. Without them there would be no LYC."

Launched in 2018, Lighthouse Young Creatives (LYC) is a six-month professional and personal development programme supporting young people aged 16–25 to build the skills, confidence, and connections needed to begin a career in the creative industries.

Brighton & Hove is home to a thriving creative and digital sector with significant employment potential for the next generation. However, these opportunities are not equally accessible to young people from all backgrounds.

LYC addresses this gap by supporting aspiring creatives who face barriers to entering the industry. The programme also works to challenge the chronic lack of diversity across the creative and digital sectors, which is rooted in long-standing social inequalities and limited access to opportunities.

Funders

Sponsors

Partners

We’re thankful to our funders, sponsors and partners:

Funders: Chalk Cliff Trust, Sussex Community Foundation, Henry Smith Foundation, Innovate UK, Big Give

Sponsors: Baxter and Bailey, CogApp, and MPB

Partners: The Rose Hill, CFI Media, The Old Market and BHASVIC