Assistant Producers 2025: student curated day of culture, creativity and community
BLOC and Arts One on Queen Mary’s Mile End campus was transformed into a vibrant hub of cultural celebration, storytelling, and artistic expression, through a day-long programme of events curated by students on the Assistant Producers Scheme
Photo by Jonathan Cole
Run by the QM Centre for Creative Collaboration, the scheme empowers students to curate events in partnership with local arts and cultural organisations, sharing skills and knowledge and reflecting the diversity, creativity, and social consciousness of east London.
The day began with the QMUL South Asian Short Film Festival, held at the BLOC Cinema. Titled “The Ties That Bind Us”, the festival was a collaboration between students at QMUL and Christ University in Bangalore, as part of the AHRC-funded India–UK project: Connecting Creative Industries & Cultural Heritage (2024–27). In partnership with the UK Asian Film Festival, the event showcased a bold selection of short films exploring the theme “Longing and Belonging”, the screenings sparked meaningful conversations about identity, migration, and cultural memory, while also offering a platform for emerging South Asian filmmakers.
In the afternoon, the Swadhinata Trust 25th Anniversary Mela took over the Arts One Building. Celebrating a quarter-century of the Trust’s work in promoting Bengali heritage in the UK, the Mela featured short films, archive exhibitions, quizzes, games, and stand-up comedy. The event also highlighted the Trust’s new presence on campus, with archival materials now housed at QMUL. As the day coincided with Ramadan, the Mela concluded with a warm and inclusive community Iftar, where attendees broke their fast with traditional Bengali food. The event was a joyful tribute to the Trust’s legacy and a celebration of intergenerational cultural storytelling.
The day ended with Ignite the East: A People’s Ode, an evening of poetry, spoken word, and music in the Pinter Studio. Inspired by the original People’s Palace—a cultural centre that once stood on the Mile End site—the event reimagined its spirit for a new generation. Hosted in collaboration with poet and facilitator Mr Gee, the programme featured performances by Queen Mary students and local artists, exploring themes of resilience, memory, and creative freedom. With another packed audience, the event created a powerful sense of community and belonging, reminding audiences of the enduring importance of accessible creative spaces.
Together, these three events showcased the extraordinary potential of student-led cultural programming. The Assistant Producers Scheme not only equips students with real-world experience in event production but also fosters collaboration across disciplines, institutions, and communities. From South Asian cinema to Bengali heritage and East End poetry, the day was a celebration of the stories that shape us—and the students who bring them to life.