Fight for Peace Young Creatives present I love my Newham 'Still' exhibition

The Good Hotel in Royal Victoria Dock recently played host to a vibrant celebration of Newham’s creative talent as Fight for Peace’s Young Creatives unveiled their exhibition, I Love My Newham, ‘Still’. Funded by Arts Council England, the event showcased the artistic achievements of ten young talents through photography, film, and poetry.

The exhibition is part of a wider Arts Council project, ‘Creative Careers for Change’, which aims to provide opportunities for young people in Newham to gain access to experience and opportunities within the creative sector.

The project gives young people the agency to tell their own stories, challenge barriers, and break down stereotypes that may stand in the way of their career progression.

Curated by Royal Docks based Fight for Peace’s Creative Lead, Kayla Troy, alongside Young Creative Aladdin Benberna, the exhibition was the result of three months of collaboration. The artists set out to explore and celebrate Newham’s identity through unique creative lenses, and the results were inspiring.

The Good Hotel’s lobby was transformed into an immersive gallery space, featuring the work of four emerging photographers, Fatimah, Alexander, Lorenzo, and Shekinah. Each photographer responded to one of four core themes, The Future, The History, Unsung Heroes, and Location. Their photography offered a fresh and authentic take on life in Newham, reflecting the borough’s rich sense of diversity and community spirit.

Meanwhile, the Sky Blue room hosted an exclusive film experience featuring behind the scenes footage by Julia and Daniel which offered insight into the creative process, while a standout visual piece, Newham in Motion by Maz, brought the borough to life through carefully collated imagery and sound.

Live poetry performances were a special touch to the evening as five young poets took to the stage, performing pieces written during workshops led by former Fight for Peace staff member and Grime artist Roachee, in collaboration with Fight for Peace’s Creative Lead, Kayla Troy.

The event drew a wonderful mix of guests from a range of backgrounds, including Fight for Peace staff, community members, and local supporters. The atmosphere was buzzing with pride and inspiration as guests engaged with the artwork, watched films, and listened to powerful spoken word performances.

More than just an exhibition, I Love My Newham, Still served as a testament to the creative potential thriving within Newham. It highlighted the importance of giving young people space and support to express themselves, tell their stories, and connect with their community through the arts.

A special thanks to Arts Council England for making the project possible, and congratulations to all the Young Creatives and poets who contributed their talent to bring the exhibition to life.

Fight for Peace provides 7-25 year olds with free boxing and martial arts sessions, as well as support with employability, education, youth leadership and mentoring. For more information visit their website www.fightforpeace.net or follow @fightforpeace on LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.