Agency for Creative Production (ACP) is a new social enterprise which has been launched to support young people in South Essex and the wider estuary region to develop their skills in live event production. ACP will facilitate enrichment opportunities for young people to build their skills in live events through direct, hands-on industry experience, with the ambition of establishing Southend, South Essex, and the Estuary region as a national source of creative talent.
The idea for ACP grew from the team at Metal Southend who have been part of the development and growth of Village Green and Village Green: Next Generation, for over 10 years. The stand-alone social enterprise will be an important legacy for the festival, ensuring its core values of supporting local young people into creative careers will be sustained into the future whilst initiating an exciting range of future new community events led by young people.
On 20 August 2022, the first cohort of young people presented their own event WYRD ESSEX at Chalkwell Hall. The event included a daytime market and evening performances with local bands, which was organised entirely by the young people.
ACP is all about putting production into practice and working with learning providers and creative businesses to offer real life opportunities that genuinely support future employability possibilities for young people. ACP has the potential to expand and diversify the live events sector through this pioneering programme with a strong social purpose.
ACP will be collaborating with USP College on an exciting one year course – UAL Creative Enterprise Level 4 Professional Diploma. This partnership will enable students to gain hands-on creative experience to gain the knowledge, skills and understanding to pursue a career in the creative industries. Students will develop work in ‘residence’ at Chalkwell Hall, as well as at USP’s creative arts studios at the Seevic Campus. During the course students will develop their own creative practice with guidance from professionals involved in a diverse range of creative careers.
Lasting Impressions by Hayley 
Lasting Impressions by Hayley 
