Are soaring costs, AI and systemic barriers about to shut out a generation of young creatives?
New research says: yeah… unless we do something.
This week, Lighthouse and MPB dropped new research looking at what it’s really like for 16–24-year-olds trying to break into the creative industries. We spoke to 1,000 young people across the UK who are already making moves or dreaming of a creative future. What they told us was loud, clear, and honestly, pretty urgent. The headline? Passion isn’t the problem, access is.
What young creatives are up against
High costs = low access
Creativity shouldn’t depend on the size of your bank account, but right now, 85% of young people say the price of equipment is stopping them from even getting started. And 70% are worried they’ll never make a stable income in the sector.
“I don’t know anyone in the industry”
Connections still open doors, and shut them.
87% of young people feel a lack of contacts will hold them back.
78% say they rarely see role models who look like them or come from similar backgrounds.
AI: exciting… and terrifying
AI is shaping the industry fast. More than half of young creatives say it’s knocked their confidence. 86% worry about how it might replace jobs or devalue human creativity.
But here’s the twist: young people also see AI as a creative ally, if they’re given the power to shape how it’s used.
Despite everything, ambition is still burning
44% still dream of turning their creative passion into a full career. But only 22% feel confident they can actually do it. This gap between talent and opportunity isn’t a small problem, it’s a national one. And it’s one we can fix.
MPB × Lighthouse: making pathways, not roadblocks
That’s why MPB and Lighthouse are teaming up long-term to support young creatives with:
- Affordable, reliable kit (via MPB)
- Mentorship that builds confidence and connections
- Skills development that meets the realities of the industry
- Youth leadership opportunities that put decision-making power where it belongs, with young people
We’re not here for one-off projects. We’re here to build Pathways Not Projects. Lighthouse’s new national initiative creating youth steering groups across the UK. These groups will influence how arts organisations work: governance, budgets, curation, tech, AI; all of it.
Find out more about the #PathwaysNotProjects movement here:
👉 pathwaysnotprojects.co.uk
Because the next generation isn’t just asking to join the creative industries. They’re asking to shape them.
Why this matters
MPB Founder & CEO Matt Barker put it simply:
“Talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not.”
And Bobby Brown, Lighthouse’s Creative Communities Producer, nailed the spirit of the work:
“We pair access with agency… The next generation doesn’t just want to enter the sector, they want to shape it.”
This is the future we’re building, one where young creatives aren’t just handed a seat at the table, but invited to redesign the table completely.
Our Future Creative Leader, Lucia Comaschi, created the website, zine and billboard designs below, responding to the research findings
Bringing Young Voices to the Streets with BUILDHOLLYWOOD
We’re taking the research findings out of the report and onto the streets. We've teamed up with BUILDHOLLYWOOD to turn city billboards into platforms for young creatives, amplifying the barriers they face, the futures they imagine, and the change they’re demanding.
Across five UK cities, you'll find billboards with key statistics from the research. By bringing youth voices into the heart of our cities, we’re making sure the conversation about access and representation is spread far and wide!
Locations of BUILDHOLLWOOD Billboards
Brighton
Bristol
Stokes Croft/Wise Bean Cafe 40-48
Liverpool
London
52-56 Brick Lane (DRY) (Tower Hamlets)
Camden Market (Camden)
170 Pentonville Road (Islington)
556 Caledonian Road / Islington College (Islington)
Union Street (Southwark)
Manchester
ABOUT
ABOUT MPB
MPB is the right way to buy, sell and trade camera gear. The world’s largest online platform for used photo and video equipment, we make it simple, fair and accessible for everyone - from first-time creators to full-time professionals.
Founded by Matt Barker in 2011, MPB was built on a belief that great kit shouldn’t cost the earth. We serve photographers and videographers across the UK, US and Europe and are expanding globally, recirculating more than 615,000 cameras, lenses and accessories every year to keep gear in use for longer and creativity flowing.
With more than 500 people based in Brighton, Brooklyn and Berlin, MPB combines smart tech with real expertise. Every piece of gear is inspected by our specialists and comes with a warranty, so buying used never means compromising on quality.
By extending the life of creative kit, MPB helps reduce waste and the carbon footprint of the photo and video industry - proving that used doesn’t mean used up. Trusted by hundreds of thousands of creators every year, MPB is on a mission to make the world of visual storytelling more accessible, more affordable and better for the planet.
mpb.com
ABOUT LIGHTHOUSE
Lighthouse is a Brighton-based arts charity championing young people aged 16–30 to shape the future of the creative industries. For nearly 40 years, they’ve supported emerging talent, especially those facing systemic barriers, in developing as artists, producers, and creative leaders.
Their programmes place power directly in the hands of young people, pairing digital innovation with community-driven practice to build equitable pathways into the sector.
www.lighthouse.org.uk | @lighthouse_btn
ABOUT UK RESEARCH AND INNOVATION (UKRI)
Launched in April 2018, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). Our vision is for an outstanding research and innovation system in the UK that gives everyone the opportunity to contribute and to benefit, enriching lives locally, nationally and internationally. Our mission is to convene, catalyse and invest in close collaboration with others to build a thriving, inclusive research and innovation system that connects discovery to prosperity and public good.
www.ukri.org | @weareinnovateuk @weareukri
