Upgrade Yourself Festival

Book tickets

FREE

17-18 Nov 2023

15.00-19.00 daily

Lancaster & River Rooms

New Wing

Upgrade Yourself Festival is back, connecting emerging creatives under 30 with trailblazing creatives and industry experts. Join us for inspiring talks, workshops, and mentoring sessions plus music and performances curated by School of Bop.

Download the Festival Map

Line-up & Activities

Main Stage Talks

FRIDAY

Yas (@yasontheinternet) – In Conversation
The freelance TV producer, model and fashion & lifestyle content creator talks us through building a career in multiple industries.

Akil Benjamin (Comuzi) – Lessons on Loss
Giving insight into running a creative business and what to do when it's not running well.

GUAP – Building a Brand and the Power of Collaboration in Fashion
With founders of fashion brands Misemi and Gbadebo, exploring what it's like to create a brand from the ground up.

Performances curated by SCHOOL OF BOP
with Shaé Universe

SATURDAY

Koby Martin – In Conversation
Artist Koby Martin sits in conversation with Ade Sanusi (Art Meets Culture) to explore his remarkable journey through the art world.

Sludge Mag – Fashion Forward
A panel discussion asking the tough questions about the fashion industry's direction with Michael Taylor, Venetia La Manna and Navpreet Singh.

School of Bop – At the intersection of Fashion & Music
Join Enzo Cosy, Savanna Small and Ede Dugdale as they discuss their experiences and career highlights as they navigate working at the intersection of music and fashion.

Performances curated by SCHOOL OF BOP
with Ayeisha Raquel

1:1 Mentoring Sessions

1:1 mentoring sessions with creative industry experts and trailblazing talent including:

Martyn Ewoma, Aran Cherkez, Joseph Ijoyemi, K Bailey Obazee, Yasontheinternet, Enorê, Sam Williams, Lison Sabrina Musset, Tayo Adesina, Venetia La Manna, Ede Dugdale, Joshua Allen, Tanz Jeyacheya, Susanna Garcia and Niamh Kelly.

Meet Your Mentors

WORKSHOPS

We advise pre-booking your workshop when you book your ticket to the festival. Workshop entry is on a first-come, first served basis until we reach capacity and those with workshop tickets will be prioritised

Friday

Makeversity Makers: Richard Youel
Explore Jesmonite casting, as Richard shows a variety of different techniques to produce your own unique items with a smooth, tactile, colourful finish.

Money Moves: How To Make ££ as a Creator with Kei Maye
Equip yourself with the tools and know-how to make money using your creative skills and how to build a sustainable living as a creator.

Talking yourself into action - Positive Thinking for Artistic Success with Love Hannington from The Collective Makers
Explore the power of positive affirmations and accessible Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) techniques to unlock your potential.

An Interactive Creative Careers Workshop with Run the Check
Working through the creative challenges of finding opportunities, this workshop will help navigate and understand what you want from a job.

Saturday

Makerversity Makers: Cassie Quinn
Exploring bio-materials and regenerative textiles, Cassie will go through a variation of techniques to create sustainable embellishments

My Runway Group: Creatives Beyond Borders – Our Lived Experience
A compelling panel and workshop session delving into the journeys and insights of creative artists and visionaries transcending geographical and cultural boundaries, with Ekow Barnes, Darren Shimawuda Ziorkley and Ohemaa Akosua.

EXTRAS

Networking activations for connecting with likeminded talent.
Free headshots by fashion photographer Courtney Hugh Campbell.
Live DJs with AS3A on Friday and Femdelafem the Gardener on Saturday
Free refreshments from Karma Drinks

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Upgrade Yourself Festival is presented with support from Warburg Pincus Foundation and the Westminster City Council Culture and Community Grants Programme.