Shaping the Future: V&A East Launches Recruitment for the 2027 Youth Collective

For young people aged 16 to 24 living in the London boroughs of Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets, or Waltham Forest, a unique opportunity is on the horizon. The V&A East, a landmark cultural initiative rooted in the heart of East London, has announced that it is now accepting applications for its next cohort of the V&A East Youth Collective. This programme serves as a vital platform for local youth to not only influence the future of museum spaces but also to actively participate in the cultural development of their own communities.

The call for applications officially opens on Friday, 16 October 2026, marking the start of a selection process aimed at identifying a diverse, curious, and creative group of young individuals. Successful applicants will be tasked with a significant challenge: reimagining what a museum and collection space should look, feel, and sound like for the younger generation. The deadline for those wishing to join this transformative eight-month programme is Sunday, 1 November 2026, at 11:59 p.m.

A Collaborative Approach to Cultural Stewardship

The V&A East Youth Collective is designed to be far more than a simple advisory board. It is a collaborative, immersive experience where participants work directly with the V&A East staff and commissioned practitioners. The goal is to ensure that both the V&A East Museum and the V&A East Storehouse are welcoming, inspiring, and—above all—relevant to the lives of young East Londoners.

Throughout the eight-month duration of the programme, which runs from January to August 2027, the cohort will engage in a series of creative workshops and site visits. These sessions are intended to provide members with a deep, behind-the-scenes look at how a world-class cultural institution operates. Participants will have the chance to influence key areas of the museum’s strategy, including visitor engagement, community outreach, and how the institution reflects the lived experiences of young people in the area.

The curriculum for the 2027 cohort builds upon the intellectual foundations laid by previous groups. While earlier iterations of the Youth Collective explored complex themes such as identity, memory, belonging, place, access, and decolonisation, the new cohort will take these conversations further. A central pillar of the upcoming programme will be the exploration of creative wellbeing and the ethics of care within museum spaces. By investigating how institutions can better support the emotional and social needs of young audiences, the collective will produce a final creative output, which will be made publicly available to the museum’s visitors.

The Institutional Vision: V&A East Museum and Storehouse

To understand the scale of the impact the Youth Collective will have, it is necessary to look at the two distinct sites that define V&A East. The V&A East Museum, located in Stratford, is a dynamic cultural destination born from the legacy of the V&A. It is explicitly dedicated to celebrating the act of making and the potential for creativity to drive societal change. Rooted in the rich heritage of East London, the museum is designed to be a hub where the voices that lead contemporary culture can be heard and amplified. It is a space built for critical and conceptual learning, where the emphasis is on the power of creative expression to shape the world.

Complementing the museum is the V&A East Storehouse, also situated near the Stratford Waterfront. This facility is a massive undertaking, housing more than half a million creative works and collection objects. Unlike traditional "back-of-house" storage, the Storehouse is designed to be publicly accessible, offering a unique opportunity for the public to engage with a vast array of artifacts and narratives. By curating these large-scale collections, the Storehouse serves as an immersive environment where stories relevant to any audience can be uncovered and shared.

Programme Structure and Participant Benefits

The Youth Collective is structured to accommodate the busy lives of young people while ensuring consistent engagement. The programme will consist of 16 evening meetings, held on alternating Thursdays from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. These sessions will be conducted in person across East London. Beyond these regular meetings, participants should expect to take part in occasional weekend activities, site visits, and dedicated days working within the museum.

The value of the programme extends beyond the theoretical work of museum curation. It offers participants a rare window into careers within the cultural sector, facilitating a learning exchange between the participants, professional practitioners, and the institution itself. Co-production is at the very heart of the initiative; the V&A East team views the participants as partners, meaning the interests and themes that emerge during the course of the programme will directly shape its future direction.

The organisers are seeking a total of 12 young people who reflect the vibrant diversity of East London. Because the role is considered a form of professional development, it is important to note that participants must have the legal right to work in the UK to receive payment. The first official session is scheduled for Thursday, 14 January 2027, at 6:00 p.m. at the V&A East Storehouse.

Engaging with the Community

For those interested in the programme, the V&A East is hosting an informational event on Sunday, 18 October, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the V&A East Storehouse. This event serves as an open invitation to prospective applicants to learn more about what to expect. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from previous members of the Youth Engagement programmes and the practitioners who have helped guide their work.

The afternoon will feature a variety of activities, including networking sessions, risograph printing workshops, short film screenings, and panel talks. It is an ideal environment for potential applicants to ask questions, meet the team behind the project, and understand how they can personally ensure that young East Londoners remain at the heart of the V&A East’s future development.

For those who have specific questions before applying, the V&A East engagement team can be contacted directly at [email protected]. Additional details, including the specific identities of the practitioners who will be leading the project, are expected to be published on the official V&A East website on Friday, 16 October, coinciding with the opening of the application portal.

By fostering a space that encourages critical inquiry and creative contribution, the V&A East aims to ensure that its institutions are not merely repositories of the past, but living, breathing spaces that resonate with the present and future of East London. The search for the 2027 cohort is an invitation for local youth to step into the role of creators, curators, and stakeholders in the cultural life of their city.