The Emergency Room: an Arts Emergency podcast

Arts Emergency

The Emergency Room is an ongoing online event series hosted by members of the Arts Emergency Youth Collective. Each episode features honest, informal conversations with creative professionals about their journeys, challenges, and the behind-the-scenes of making it in the arts. Find out more about Arts Emergency at https://www.arts-emergency.org

Episodes

  1. Mar 2

    S2 Ep1. Craft, Courage and Creative Survival

    🚨The Emergency Room: Who gets to make? Craft, Courage and Creative Survival? 🎙️ Hosted by Selina Candengue & Ummi Hoque This episode explores what it really takes to build a life in making — financially, emotionally, and socially — and how community spaces like Blackhorse Workshop challenge who feels allowed to enter that world in the first place. It becomes a conversation about creative survival, not just creative success. We’re joined by: ✨Jo Clarke - Director of Blackhorse Workshop. She is an artist and maker with 20 years’ experience in the non-profit sector, leading creative community-based programming, mainly in East London. She has worked in social enterprise and cooperative development, and is the founder of London Green Wood CIC. She’s also a Trusteeat Rosetta Arts, with a focus on community participation. ✨Lucy Martin - Creative Programme Manager (Schools and Young People). Lucy is an experienced creative youth practitioner and journalist who has worked with young people to produce documentaries, podcasts, and photography exhibitions alongside craft-based youth programmes. Having programmed and led multiple youth projects across East London, contributing to long term change for young people.Check out Blackhorse Workshop’s website. You can find a range of courses and events, studios, bookable open-access woodwork and metalwork workbenches, monthly memberships, and supported sessions led by expert technicians to help you get startedHere’s a network of open-access workshops across the UK. Whether your interests lie in ceramics or robotics, whether you consider yourself an amateur or a professional, you can explore the directory to discover an Open Workshop near you.

    S2 Ep1. Craft, Courage and Creative Survival
  2. 08/19/2025

    S1 Ep3. Advocating for others in creative spaces

    Are you passionate about access and inclusion in the arts? Want to learn how to advocate for others in creative spaces? Join us for an open conversation about what it means to support each other in the arts and creative industries. This session is part of The Emergency Room – our online event series where members of the Youth Collective host conversations with professionals from across the creative world. 🎤 Hosted by Arisha-Jane Marsh & Fisola Kelly-Akinnuoye 🚨 Joined by Ash Cox, Alistair Charles Wilkinson, Simon Pollard We’re joined by:  Ash Cox is a freelancer specialising in visitor experience, digital engagement, access, facilitation, and producing. They have worked with organisations including The Octagon, HOME, the University of Salford, Contact, The Lowry, Dibby Theatre, and more. Alistair Charles Wilkinson is a Creative Director working across football, live performance, heritage, and immersive storytelling. With over 15 years’ experience, he specialises in bold, co-created cultural work that activates imagination and centres care. Alistair was the first ever Creative Lead at the National Football Museum, and has led on artist development at The Old Vic and Punchdrunk. Through his company, Life’s a Pitch Projects, he collaborates with athletes, clubs, fans, and communities to explore football’s radical creative potential. Constantly in pursuit of excellence, Alistair prides himself on working with audacious, charismatic collaborators who aren’t afraid to drag mud through the carpets. They are also the founder of WoLab, a seven-year programme that supported 500+ artists to take creative risks. Alongside this, Alistair regularly works as a fundraiser, access support worker and wellbeing practitioner – always championing care, ambition and the structures that help artists thrive. Simon Pollard is a freelance theatre director and acting coach for film and TV, working primarily in musical theatre. He is currently working on Blitz, directed by Steve McQueen, and runs a theatre company called Rebel Theatre. He is also an Education Associate for the Old Vic Theatre. The Emergency Room is an ongoing podcast series where members of the Arts Emergency Youth Collective host open and honest conversations with professionals from across the creative world. Find out more about Arts Emergency: https://www.arts-emergency.org Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltRdh0LD1ng

    S1 Ep3. Advocating for others in creative spaces

About

The Emergency Room is an ongoing online event series hosted by members of the Arts Emergency Youth Collective. Each episode features honest, informal conversations with creative professionals about their journeys, challenges, and the behind-the-scenes of making it in the arts. Find out more about Arts Emergency at https://www.arts-emergency.org