Hundreds take part in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park summer school

The two-week East Summer School took place in July and August across Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, offering workshops in film, dance, fashion, music production, coding, and environmental science.

Now in its eighth year, the programme is designed to inspire and empower the next generation of creatives.

Shazia Hussain, chief executive of LLDC, joins young creatives at East Summer School (Image: Rahil Ahmad) Shazia Hussain, chief executive of the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC), said: “The London Growth Plan recognises that London cannot achieve its growth potential until all Londoners are achieving their potential – ambitions that are at the heart of East Summer School.

“Created to support diverse talent and remove barriers to opportunity, the programme equips young people with the skills, confidence, and networks they need to thrive in London’s evolving workforce.”

Young participants get behind the mic in a radio workshop (Image: Rahil Ahmad) Young people from Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest took part in the scheme.

Workshops were led by experts from institutions based at East Bank, the park’s culture and education quarter.

Participants designed fashion pieces with London College of Fashion, produced a radio show with BBC Music Studios, and curated dance performances with Sadler’s Wells East.

Hockey workshops at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park (Image: Rahil Ahmadrahilahmad@hotmail.co.uk) They also explored game design with UCL Engineering and experimented with printmaking and photography at V&A East Storehouse.

Elsewhere on the park, attendees learned about insect habitats with the Royal Entomological Society, developed business ideas with Social Ark, and attended a three-day lighting and production workshop with ABBA Voyage.

Young artists explore creativity through hands-on sessions at East Summer School (Image: Rahil Ahmad)

Tracey Walsh, chief executive of East End Community Foundation, said: “We are proud to support East Summer School.

“We invest heavily in holiday provision for children and young people across the East End, so it was great to see first-hand how each programme provided young people with exposure to great learning opportunities, amazing facilities and resources.

“East Summer School is helping to ensure that every young person locally has the opportunity to thrive.”

Layla Conway, head of education, careers and youth engagement at LLDC, added: “At East Summer School, we believe creativity has a role to play in every subject to help both creative and critical thinking.”