Metal Peterborough and The Kite Trust are working together on Where we are… a UK wide youth-led project with the British Museum.
‘Where we are…’ is a UK wide youth-led programme for those aged 16–24, which places them at the heart of shaping arts and culture in their local communities, empowering young people through the co-creation of arts and culture. Each year, the British Museum invites cultural and third-sector organisations from two locations across the UK to co-create projects with young people – and we’re thrilled to have been chosen to lead this exciting programme in Peterborough.
Together with The Kite Trust, young people will co-design a project that is responsive to their ideas, needs, and priorities. The programme is all about breaking down the barriers that can make it difficult for young people to engage with arts spaces – and making sure their voices are heard in shaping the cultural landscape where they live.
Want to get involved? – We’re hosting a pop-up exhibition, Here We Are, on Friday 23 and Saturday 24 January, at Roots To Rise on the 1st floor of Queensgate Shopping Centre.
Here We Are is an exhibition of works expressing individuality, mess, union, and hope. Created by local young people in collaboration with Metal, The Kite Trust, and The British Museum, new urgent, noisy, and non-conformist works celebrate unheard voices and showcase queer joy.
During the Autumn of 2025, 15 local young people took part in Where We Are. The programme placed them at the heart of shaping arts and culture in their local communities, empowering young people through the co-creation of arts and culture.
Working with artist Rose Croft, Metal, and The Kite Trust, the group have explored new ways of making and creating work – from spoken word, to alternative ways of mark making, and music-jamming sessions. They’ve explored themes around power and youth voice, all whilst learning about the creative gems that Peterborough has to offer.
This has resulted in the creation of Here We Are, a pop-up exhibition taking place in the heart of Peterborough city centre. The exhibition is an opportunity to see all the work that young people have created during the programme.
Alongside the exhibition on Saturday 24 January from 2 – 5pm there will be creative activities, performances, and a discussion panel taking place between 2 – 5pm
About Rose Croft (Creative Facilitator)
Rose Croft is a socially engaged artist, storyteller and creative producer, dedicated to creating safe, accessible spaces that foster connection through art, story and nature. Their practice is rooted in the belief that creative experiences can inspire joy, strengthen personal and community resilience and deepen cultural connection.
Rose regularly works with arts organisations, charities, community groups, schools and festivals. They are one half of the not-for-profit arts organisation Art Pop-Up and the founder of the producer-led collective Angry Pencil. Rose has shared stories and delivered workshops both locally and internationally for over 14 years. Rose will be the workshop and Creative Facilitator for the sessions.
About The Kite Trust
Since 1993, The Kite Trust has been at the forefront of delivering LGBTQ+ youth programmes, offering peer-to-peer support and safe social spaces for young people facing discrimination and marginalisation. Each year, they support over 500 young people aged 13–30 through a range of services, including weekly social groups, family events, residential trips, one-to-one support, and youth leadership initiatives.
You can find out more about The Kite Trust here: https://thekitetrust.org.uk/
About the Where We Are… programme
‘Where we are…’ is a youth-led British Museum programme supported by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation for those aged 16–24 aims to empower young people through the co-creation of arts and culture projects within their own communities.
Running from 2021–2025, Where we are… is delivered through a collaborative partnership between the British Museum, a local museum (or cultural organisation), a third sector organisation (charity, community group, social enterprise etc.) and young people.
You can find out more about the previous rounds of the Where We Are programme here
