Are you a Hackney Shed member between 9-25?

If so, you can join our Young Archivists group to uncover Hackney Shed’s hidden stories and shape its future. Whether you love history, theatre, art, interviewing, design or simply asking great questions, this is your chance to make your mark.

For 25 years, Hackney Shed has celebrated the creativity and potential of young people, creating a place where they can be creative and thrive. But many of the voices behind that journey have never been shared. As part of our 25th birthday celebrations, our Young Archivists will shine a light on those stories by meeting the people who lived them, recording their memories, and creating a digital timeline and public exhibition celebrating 25 years of inclusion in Hackney.

Over the course of a year, the Young Archivists will meet four times each term (one evening session per month, and one full day during the half-term break) to work together to create a permanent record of Hackney Shed’s story.

Together you’ll:

  • Explore Hackney Shed’s archives – think posters, programmes and costumes from productions gone by.
  • Record oral histories with the people who helped shape Hackney Shed and inclusive youth work across Hackney.
  • Uncover untold stories and voices that deserve to be heard.
  • Create a digital timeline celebrating 25 years of inclusion, creativity and community.
  • Design and deliver a public exhibition at Hackney Archives, sharing your discoveries with the wider community.
  • Leave behind a lasting record that will help carry Hackney Shed’s legacy into the future.

Everything you discover will become the starting point for a second year of creative projects across Hackney Shed. Your research will inspire new theatre, performances and creative work, helping to kick-start the next chapter of Hackney Shed’s story.

If you have any questions about access or any other aspect of the project, please get in touch.

When: Three Tuesday evenings a term plus one full day in the half term

Where: The City Academy, Hackney

Who: 9–25 year-olds Hackney Shed members. If you’re new to Hackney Shed, we’re looking for young people aged 16-25 to join the project. (We particularly encourage young people who are neurodivergent and/or have a learning disability)

Cost: Free to attend

Contact louise@hackneyshed.org.uk for more information