11 February 2024

Eastside Educational Trust celebrates its 30th anniversary

A youth arts charity chaired by Edward Benyon, Estate Manager of The Benyon Estate, is holding a special exhibition to mark its 30th anniversary year.

Edward took over the role as Chair of the Eastside Educational Trust in November 2023 as it prepared to mark this significant milestone. A free exhibition celebrating the work of Eastside is now open to visitors at Shoreditch Library and runs until 4th March 2024.

With the support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Hackney Libraries, the interactive exhibition tells the story of Hackney-based Eastside, which provides arts educational workshops and programmes for children and young people aged five to 25.

Eastside serves some of the most deprived communities across the country, offering year-round creative workshops and funded artistic programmes to inspire thousands of young people to fulfil their potential.

Edward Benyon said: “I am proud to be chairing this hugely valuable organisation as it marks its 30th anniversary. The arts can have such a positive impact on young lives and the opportunities provided by Eastside Educational Trust have been making a difference to some of the most underserved communities for three decades. 

“I am very much looking forward to helping Eastside continue to carry out such important work in its anniversary year.”

The exhibition is showcasing documentaries created with students from Newham Sixth Form College, along with podcasts and images of Eastside’s work. It is hoped that it will inspire future generations to explore their own creativity and pursue careers in the arts.

Matt Lane, Chief Executive Officer and Artistic Director at Eastside said: “

This exhibition is a fantastic celebration of all the hard work Eastside has undertaken over the last 30 years.

It is important to mark Eastside’s milestone birthday and celebrate the impact it has had on thousands of children and young people across the UK, especially at a time when arts and creativity funding for young people is at an all-time low. Our work has never been more relevant.”

For more details, visit: https://www.eastside.org.uk/events/eastsides-30th-anniversary 

 

Photos copyright: The Eastside Educational Trust Exhibition. Photos by Alicia Canter