2026 Young Producer Freya describes her experiences participating in the program and reflects on the final outcomes.
Being a Young Producer at the Amelia Scott has been such a rewarding experience. As a long-time history lover with a passion for arts and crafts, I knew the opportunity was ideal – a way to get hands-on experience of working in culture and heritage. Little did I know what an incredible journey the next few months were going to be, pushing me to think outside the box alongside an amazing group of creatives who continue to inspire me.
The most exciting part of the project has been the openness of the brief. We learned about the forgotten or overlooked stories of activism from the Amelia’s collections, even getting the chance to handle artefacts, and the sky was the limit – we could produce anything! It has been fun collaborating with the other Young Producers, all of whom come from such different backgrounds ranging from photography to textiles, literature to visual arts. Being one of the youngest, I was worried that I would struggle to get my voice heard, but the group is very attentive and I appreciate that nobody shuts each other down but rather suggests ways to improve existing ideas. We bounce off each other so well, developing myriad ways to tell these stories and make them engaging. Our collective skillset has strengthened the quality of what we have produced – this is exemplified in our zine, which compiles stories from areas of Tunbridge Wells’ history like the environment, migration and women’s suffrage. There are also games, crafts and even a history-themed ‘pub tour’! It is so clear that the zine is a collaborative achievement which we have poured all our creativity, focus and effort into, and we are so proud of the final product.
I particularly remember the session where we came up with the idea for our trail, Activist Avenue, which launches at the Amelia on 19th September. It was one of the group’s first meetings: we spent the morning discovering different radical stories and examining artefacts from the collection. Reading Amelia Scott’s words in her own handwriting, and seeing photographs of suffragette marches in areas we recognised, was fascinating. I have always been a museum-lover, so to go behind the scenes and engage with historical objects on such a personal level was thrilling.
With the trail, we were initially inspired by the story of the young refugee girls living at the Beacon during the Second World War, having read their testimonies in a scrapbook. We wanted to create a walk-in dollhouse in the Amelia, each room of which would be themed around a different refugee story! Due to logistics and further workshopping with each other and the Amelia staff, we ended up deciding to make a trail which was spread out across the museum instead, but held onto the design of ‘houses’, as Tunbridge Wells has always been a residential area with a close-knit community. I personally liked the idea that using the houses design meant the trail would be like a trip down “Memory Lane”!
The idea of the trail is to travel through time, visiting six radicals from Tunbridge Wells’ history and discovering their stories. Each adventurer receives a ‘passport’ to collect stamps and complete activities. We think it is important to raise awareness about democracy, activism and resistance, but in an approachable and conceivable way: the activities we designed reflect this. From a ballot box which teaches the importance of voting, to a quiz explaining the difference between suffragists and suffragettes, we have integrated the themes of the Unlocking Collections project into our work to continue the legacy of these radicals.
I am so lucky to have had the opportunity to do something few young people get to – create something inspired by subjects I care deeply about, while being provided with all the resources and support necessary to execute it. Working with the other Young Producers has been a learning experience in teamwork and pushed me out of my comfort zone. With enthusiastic guidance (and iced coffee!) from Bethan, we have thrived and created worthwhile outcomes. The Amelia’s work is integral to maintaining Tunbridge Wells’ culture, social balance and sense of community, and to contribute to that has been a huge honour and something I will feel the benefits of in the future.
Look out for Activist Avenue, along with further projects from the Young Producers like our zine and our co-creation with an artist, over the coming months!
The Young Producers Brief
Over six months, they will explore underrepresented stories from the town’s radical past, focusing on people and movements that sought to create a fairer society. This includes histories of migration and refuge, workers’ rights and welfare reform, women’s rights and civic activism, as well as environmental action and the town’s legacy of conservation. Through this exploration of local heritage, the Young Producers will co-commission a new artwork in response to these stories and create their own interpretive resources that bring the work to life for a wider audience.
