Introducing Creative Sidley: A Youth-Led Takeover of Local Culture
Creative Sidley is underway! Since April, a group of 11 young people aged 11–17 from the Sidley area have been meeting fortnightly to explore their creativity, build new skills, and connect with each other and their community.
Together, they’ve begun shaping a programme of creative activity that will run over the next few months – including workshops, artist collaborations, and public ‘takeover’ moments throughout Sidley. From storytelling and sound to design, performance and visual art, the project gives young people the tools and support to express their ideas, share their perspectives, and make a lasting impact on their local area. (You might have seen them performing at Sidley Festival this summer!)
Shaped by Young People
So far, the group has worked together to develop their vision, reflect on what creativity means to them and build confidence through hands-on sessions. This spring, they also played a central role in shortlisting and interviewing candidates for the project’s first Artist in Residence – making the final selection as a team.
The Artist in Residence will now collaborate with the group to co-create new work and support the development of a series of public events in Sidley.
We’re thrilled to welcome our new Artist in Residence and Emerging Creative Facilitator!
Meet the Artist in Residence
Lexy Morvaridi
“I’m really excited to work with young people in Sidley and support their creativity within the local community. I’m looking forward to developing pieces of work that grow from the facilitation skills we build together. We’ll begin with deep listening and narrative building, which we can then share with the wider community to bring people together… We might also be playful and experiment with different ways of making cross-disciplinary work, giving us chances to explore and share our many creative interests and skills, always letting the process lead the way.”
Lexy Morvaridi is an artist, cultural programmer and DIY activist. Their socially engaged practice explores sound, identity and narrative through installation, performance, and community-led collaboration. Lexy was previously Contemporary Music and Culture Programmer at Southbank Centre and has developed projects with young people with the ICA, Brent Biennial, Raw Materials, and Dulwich Picture Gallery. They are currently a studio artist at Gasworks and one half of InnerSwell, a sound and memory project co-created with Laima Leyton.
A New Pathway into Creative Work: Emerging Creative Facilitator
Harper Fairbrass
Creative Sidley also includes a dedicated Emerging Creative Facilitator role, delivered in partnership with Talent Accelerator. This paid opportunity supports a local creative aged 18–25 to take their first steps into socially engaged arts practice.
The Emerging Creative Facilitator joins the project team across fortnightly sessions and public events, learning alongside the Artist in Residence while receiving tailored mentoring from both Lexy and our Head of Learning and Engagement, Maya. This role is all about confidence-building, skills development and creative leadership – helping a young local practitioner grow into their own unique facilitation style.
“I am really looking forward to being a part of Creative Sidley. I’m excited to have the chance to encourage and guide the young people as they explore their creative interests and connection to their community through engaging processes. I also feel very lucky to have such inspirational mentors to support me in this position and help expand my knowledge, skills and practice.” – Harper Fairbrass
Harper Fairbrass is an illustrator and artist based in Bexhill-on-Sea. She completed her Art Foundation at Camberwell (UAL) and graduated in 2024 with a BA in Illustration from the University of Brighton. Her work embraces tactile, handmade processes – including collage and pencil drawing – and is characterised by bold colour, playful composition and quiet humour. Harper is a co-director of Living Communities CIC, which delivers creative projects in Bexhill and London. She has also supported workshops at the De La Warr Pavilion and in Eastbourne, and is passionate about using art as a tool for connection, confidence and storytelling.
A Shared Studio at Beeching Road
As part of the project, both Lexy and Harper have access to a shared studio unit at Beeching Road Studios, providing them with a dedicated space to develop the project and their own creative practices side by side. This gives them the chance to embed within a thriving local creative community and deepen their connection to Sidley and Bexhill through ongoing presence and practice.
This opportunity has been made possible thanks to generous support from the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, through the Creative, Confident Communities fund. Creative Sidley is supported for three years as part of this programme, and we’re deeply grateful for the investment in young people, artists, and community-led creativity in Sidley.
Who’s Involved?
Creative Sidley is a partnership project made possible through collaboration between local organisations including Heart of Sidley, The Pelham, Sara Lee Trust, Earl’s Café, 18Hours, Beeching Road Studios, Flatland Projects, and Talent Accelerator. Together, we’re creating space for young people to lead, imagine and create – and to see their ideas come to life in their own community.
Stay tuned for updates on workshops, takeovers, and ways to get involved!
Posted by Daisy Jerome on Thursday 26 June 2025