Meet the Professional Creatives
Azra Thorlby
Azra is a Project Assistant (Youth Engagement) at Future Creators, where they support young people at events and champions youth voice and participation within the organisation. They also contribute to wider organisational projects, including the digital badging initiative and data administration. Azra comes from a background in music and youth advocacy, which shapes their passion for building meaningful spaces for young people in the arts.
Emma Staples
Emma is a Project Assistant (Youth Engagement) at Future Creators. She works across a range of areas within the organisation, including youth engagement, social media and communications, impact reporting, and supporting events and youth initiatives. Emma is passionate about empowering young people and helping them build confidence and awareness of opportunities within the creative industries.
Nancy Batters
Nancy is the Programmes Coordinator for Create Music. She works closely with Schools and partners of the Sussex Music Hub to support in CPD sessions, One Voice and Network meetings for Primary, Secondary and SEND teachers. Nancy also works closely with the Future Creators team, assisting in events with Young People across Sussex. Before working for Create Music, Nancy worked as a Production Assistant at a performing art university.
Sarah Woodmansey
Sarah is the Music Centre, Concerts and Events Administrator for Create Music. As well as working across events and music centre, Sarah works closely with the Brighton & East Sussex Youth Orchestra, supporting the organisation of their annual tour and co-chairing their Student Leaders meeting. Before Create Music, Sarah worked in theatre, participatory arts and education.
Applications to audition are open
We are inviting students aged 14–19 to audition and are looking for performers and musicians of any discipline and genre.
The audition panel will include young people and representatives from the creative industries, and successful artists will be offered a performance slot within the event.
This year marks the 60th edition of Brighton Festival. We’re asking young creatives to re-imagine and regenerate music from 60 years ago - taking inspiration from sounds of the 1960s and blending them with the music, culture and influences they engage with today to create something new.
Maybe this is a song from the 60s reworked for string quartet or jazz trio, a spoken word piece over the top of 1960s music, a dance piece, or a song rewritten into a contemporary style – that is completely up to you!
We’re looking for work that feels original, bold and personal. We welcome submissions in:
- Music (in any genre – contemporary, classical, jazz, rock, blues, metal, R&B etc!)
- Dance
- Spoken Word / Poetry
- Performance Art