New Art Exchange launches YOUnique Young Producers Programme for emerging creative leaders in Nottingham.
26 May 2026
Open Call:
New Art Exchange (NAE) is inviting applications for the YOUnique Young Producers Programme, a development opportunity for aspiring festival and event producers aged 18 to 30 living in Nottingham City. The programme supports young people to build practical skills in arts and cultural production while collaborating on a four-day festival takeover at NAE in March 2027.
Institutional Context:
The YOUnique Programme is designed to nurture a new generation of creative producers through training, collaboration and hands-on experience. Participants will work alongside the NAE team, industry professionals, artists and facilitator Jay Sandhu from Nott Another to co-create events and contribute to the development of the YOUnique Festival taking place from 3 to 6 March 2027.
The programme includes training in event planning, management, evaluation, budgeting, and marketing, alongside networking opportunities, collaborative working, and visits to arts events across the region, where appropriate.
Eligibility and Criteria:
Applicants must:
- Be aged between 18 and 30
- Live in Nottingham City
- Be interested in arts, festivals, events and social change.
NAE is especially interested in supporting applications from the global ethnic majority, defined by the organisation as people who are Black, Asian, Brown, dual heritage, indigenous to the global south, and or racialised as ethnic minorities.
Applications can be submitted either in writing, with responses of up to 300 words per question, or as video or voice recordings of up to 2 minutes per question.
Applicants will be asked to respond to questions about:
- Arts and social change
- Their interest in the programme
- Ideas for an event at New Art Exchange
- Access requirements
- A creative “superpower” question
Evaluation Process:
Shortlisted applicants will be invited to attend a workshop on Saturday, 4 July 2026 at 3pm, with successful applicants informed on Friday, 4 July 2026.
Selection will be based on the strength of the application responses, creative potential, enthusiasm for collaborative working and interest in arts and community engagement.
Practical Information:
- Application deadline: 24 June 2026 at 11:59pm
- Group introduction session at NAE: 26 July 2026, 4pm
- Programme runs: September 2026 to February 2027
- YOUnique Festival: 3 to 6 March 2027
Training sessions will take place at New Art Exchange, with some online activity and visits to events across the city and region where appropriate.
Applications and Queries:
To find out more or discuss the programme, applicants can refer to the website or contact: younique@nae.org.uk
