Meet the four young east Londoners who took part in STEP into the Smithsonian, a life changing international experience to develop unique creative skills.
With support from the V&A, the Smithsonian Institution and the other partners creating a new world-class cultural and educational destination, East Bank on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
Set over a six week period in July 2019, the immersive development programme connected four young east Londoners to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C.
The STEP into the Smithsonian participants were asked to document their experiences. Their creative reflections manifested as essays, stories, quotes, images, illustrations, poems and other creative pieces.
The group visited renowned cultural institutions in London, Washington and New York through a series of workshops, conversations, meetings and visits.
This zine presents some of the great material they produced, capturing a sense of the project and illustrating their experience.
East Bank is a new powerhouse for innovation, creativity and learning on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. It is a unique collaboration between world-leading universities, arts and culture institution that opens up opportunities for everyone who visits, lives and works in east London.
The Mayor of London has set out his £1.1 billion vision that represents the most significant single investment in London’s culture since the legacy of the 1851 Great Exhibition, and will shape the cultural life of the city for the 21st century and beyond.