Local young people co-curate Great Exhibition Road Festival exhibit

This year's Young Producers programme saw nine young people aged 18-25 from diverse backgrounds (but all connected the local area of the Kensington and Chelsea, Hammersmith and Fulham or Westminster) co-produce a textile exhibit in collaboration with Imperial College London's Public and Community Engagement Team.

Working with textile artist Chloé Rochefort and heritage specialist Christina Peake, the Young Producers shaped the creation of Uncovering 1851, an interactive exhibit for the 2026 Great Exhibition Road Festival that explored the complex history of the Great Exhibition. 

The Great Exhibition of 1851 was a major event of the Victorian era, and was visited by 6 million people: equivalent to roughly one third of the country at the time. It showcased over 100,000 exhibits from all around the world, and its huge profits and far-reaching legacy were used to establish South Kensington as a cultural hub. To mark its 175th anniversary, the Young Producers - and the wider Great Exhibition Road Festival programme - revisited this event through the lens of decolonisation, exploring the often-overlooked stories of people and communities from the global majority whose labour, knowledge and cultures shaped the Great Exhibition, even though their voices and experiences were not recognised in 1851. 

The sessions were led by Cristina Torrente of Imperial's Public and Community Engagement team in collaboration with creative facilitator Chloé Rochefort, and ran on a weekly basis from January 2026 right up until the Great Exhibition Road Festival weekend on 6 and 7 June. At the meetings, the Young Producers explored the events of 1851 through a range of creative practices, such as roleplay, painting, drawing, discussion and hands on activities, guided by Christina Peake, a heritage researcher and facilitator. These evening sessions ranged from painting Victorian-inspired miniature portraits to get to know one another better, to roleplaying as personified British colonies...and there was always plenty of pizza to be had in the breaks! 

"The Young Producers project this year exploring the Great Exhibition was a really challenging and expansive project for the Young Producers to engage in. They were asked not just to understand a historical event, but how concepts and practices that have evolved and are still present today. I think they also showed extraordinary sensitivity towards other societies and cultures as this is a key aspect of the work, how you hold the stories and histories of others with care. An exceptional group of young people that created a fascinating experience for everyone involved, including an outstanding art installation." - Christina Peake, artist, creative facilitator and heritage specialist.

Many of the Young Producers cited their trip to the National Archives as a highlight of the programme, where they were able to examine Great Exhibition memorabilia such as season tickets, initial drafts of the iconic Crystal Palace, and a replica of the Koh-i-Noor Diamond, acquired in 1849 by the East India Company and displayed at the Great Exhibition.

"It has been very special to witness how the Young Producers progressively learned about complex historical events surrounding the Great Exhibition of 1851, and how they decided to translate them creatively for others to understand. It was a powerful demonstration of transmission and showed that history can be shared in your own unique way." - Chloé Rochefort, textile artist

In addition to uncovering the history of the Great Exhibition, the Young Producers worked closely with Chloé Rochefort to shape their creation of the art installation, as well as practising their public speaking skills in order to better engage Festival visitors with the piece and the context surrounding it. 

Feedback from participants has been overwhelmingly positive, with the young people reflecting that their personal confidence grew, their interest in history flourished and that they formed lasting friendships. 

"My favourite thing about the Young Producers has been the community that we've made. You come in not knowing anybody, and by the time you're leaving the first session, you're walking together back to the train station! That helps so much when you're researching, as you know everyone understands one another and we're all on the same page, even though sometimes we have differing perspectives. I think that's what makes the installation so intricate and detailed." - A Young Producer from the 2026 cohort.

The Young Producers programme runs on a yearly basis in conjunction with the Great Exhibition Road Festival, with applications for the next cohort opening in September of 2026.

Are you interested in getting involved, or know someone who might be? Follow the Great Exhibition Road Festival on Twitter/X and Instagram to be the first to know when applications open, or contact Cristina Torrente via email for more information.