Auto Italia’s Young Artists Programme is a free and accessible series of workshops and mentoring opportunities for young people aged 14 to 25 living in Tower Hamlets and Newham. Led by artists, designers, technologists, and filmmakers, the programme introduces participants to new media, digital technologies, and creative practices.

We work closely with secondary schools, community groups, and local services within our place-based partnership network to ensure our work reaches those who would benefit most. Sessions take place across schools, community settings, and within Auto Italia’s project space, offering flexible and inclusive opportunities for engagement.

Creative Technologies invites young people to explore digital art forms through hands-on workshops in filmmaking, virtual and augmented reality, creative coding, digital photography, live DJing, music production, and more.

Creative Futures begins with talks and workshops delivered in schools and community spaces, introducing young people to creative education pathways and career progression. Within this framework, participants receive tailored one-to-one mentoring on GCSE and A Level portfolios, as well as support with university applications. Practising artists and Auto Italia’s team offer personalised guidance, from portfolio development to interview preparation, equipping young people with the tools and confidence to navigate their creative journeys. This programme also foregrounds creative practice as a powerful tool for self-expression, enabling participants to explore and communicate their identities, perspectives, and experiences.

Discover more about our 2024–2025 YAP projects here.

We offer guided exhibition tours for schools and community groups, creating opportunities to engage with contemporary art practices and the work of international artists.

Key outcomes of the Young Artists Programme include:

• Sustained engagement and collaboration with leading international artists through critically acclaimed exhibitions and projects at Auto Italia’s project space.
• Access to cutting-edge creative media, alongside focused training and mentoring from artists, technologists, and technical specialists.
• Opportunities to showcase work, including pieces created in workshops and as part of GCSE and A Level coursework.
• A deeper understanding of how studying art and design can open up diverse and exciting career paths within and beyond the creative industries.
• Support to explore and shape individual creative futures through mentoring and advice on higher education and art school applications.
• Tailored guidance on university applications, portfolio development, and interview preparation.

The Young Artists Programme empowers young people to explore contemporary art and digital culture, build creative confidence, and forge pathways into education, work, and artistic practice.