In the heart of South Kensington, a diverse and dynamic group of 18-25-year-olds are helping shape London's biggest festival of science and the arts.
The Great Exhibition Road Festival brings together iconic scientific and cultural institutions including Imperial College London, the V&A Museum and the Royal Albert Hall. Attracting tens of thousands of visitors every year, the free Festival is a melting pot of hands-on activities, performances, talks, workshops and exhibitions for people of all ages. And some of these have been designed by local young people inspired by Imperial research as part of the Festival's Young Producers programme.
"Through working with and involving young people we've been able to engage groups and attract visitors we wouldn't have been able to on our own." Cristina Torrente Public Engagement Programme Coordinator (Young People)
"The Young Producers programme was created to offer something for young people at the Festival, and what better way of doing it than allowing young people to produce something themselves? Their installation will be part of the NextGen Zone which is dedicated to young people," says Cristina Torrente, a member of Imperial's Public Engagement team who runs the project.
The Young Producers are recruited from the local boroughs and the scheme has gone from strength to strength since its pilot in 2021 with applications increasing from 25 last year to 55 this year. As part of the programme, 12 young people work with Imperial researchers and an artist to create an activity for Festival-goers. They work together over six months, receiving training and testing out their ideas ahead of the Festival. They also become ambassadors for the event.
"Through working with and involving young people we've been able to engage groups and attract visitors we wouldn't have been able to on our own. They tell their friends and family about and invite them to come along," says Cristina.
The young people are paid for their time too. "They are bringing a lot to the table and we want this opportunity to be available to everyone regardless of their background so we pay them London living wage. Some have said they wouldn't otherwise have been able to take part."
Are you an AI-doomerist or utopianist?
This year's activity is all about exploring people's perceptions of artificial intelligence and its role in our futures. The Young Producers are working with researchers in Imperial's Department of Computing and artist Laure Barthélemy to develop an interactive installation on our relationship with AI. They tested the first iteration of the activity with attendees at the Imperial Lates where visitors explored a personality map to determine whether they are AI-doomerists or AI-utopianists.
Dr Antoine Cully, Director of the Adaptive & Intelligent Robotics Lab, Deputy Director of Research who has been working with the group said, "Working with the Young Producers has been an enriching experience - seeing how they perceive AI and its potential impacts on our society and how to blend it with art in their installation. I've been pleasantly surprised by their creativity and their desire to always know more about AI throughout the process. Sharing our research and experience with them is a great opportunity to demystify some aspects of these new technologies, but also to personally reflect on new ways to ensure the adoption of new technology while addressing their valid concerns."
"That feeling of being simultaneously excited and cautious is a common ground that we can all relate to." Dr Edward Johns Director of the Robot Learning Lab
"I am so excited to take part in this festival as I think it is a beautiful experience to be able to create an installation with a group and present it to the public," said Laura Prieto Lopez, one of the young producers.
Another young producer, Charles Mugoya, said his highlight has been learning about AI. "Artificial Intelligence is still a new concept and with a focus on learning, I believe we will be better equipped to educate long after the programme's completion. I think allowing young people with no experience with AI to participate reduces the gap between educational resources available to those at the institution and members of a community."
"The young people have been a delight to work with – they're a curious, enthusiastic, and friendly group. Their views on artificial intelligence are familiar from my conversations with the wider public, sharing excitement about how artificial intelligence can now be used in creative ways, whilst also sharing concerns about privacy, job security, and the speed at which society could now change. But although I may be more familiar with the underlying science, that feeling of being simultaneously excited and cautious is a common ground that we can all relate to." said Dr Edward Johns, Director of the Robot Learning Lab.
"Progressive and forward-thinking"
One participant, Sekela Ngamilo, said she has found the experience "illuminating and inspiring". She said, "I've always been interested in artistic and scientific spaces but have felt that there's a lack of access for people from working class and minority backgrounds. This programme has opened a door for us to enter the space and bring our unique and diverse perspectives to it. Engaging with the scientists has also been incredible as they are knowledgeable and generous to share their knowledge with us. It's made me see the festival as more progressive and forward thinking."
"This programme has opened a door for us" Sekela Ngamilo Young Producer
Han Hussein is another Young Producer and student at Royal Holloway. Before the programme, they didn't have much knowledge of the Festival and saw Imperial as "prestigious and very competitive".
They said, "I didn't expect to see myself working alongside Imperial in a project like this. I think I've become more open minded about the people here and what working with researchers in the field of AI is like. I'm less intimidated by Imperial's status and I think the Festival will be a lot of fun!"
The Great Exhibition Road Festival is taking place over the 15-16 June in South Kensington.
