The Amelia Young Producers are a group of eight young people from our community, aged 18 to 25, who share a passion for and commitment to building a career in the heritage and cultural sectors.
Over the next six months, they will explore underrepresented stories from the town’s radical past, focusing on people and movements that sought to create a fairer society. This includes histories of migration and refuge, workers’ rights and welfare reform, women’s rights and civic activism, as well as environmental action and the town’s legacy of conservation. Through this exploration of local heritage, the Young Producers will co-commission a new artwork in response to these stories and create their own interpretive resources that bring the work to life for a wider audience.
We are incredibly excited about this project and look forward to seeing how the group responds creatively to these important histories.
This project is supported using public funding from the National Lottery through Arts Council England.
Meet our Young Producers -
Alex Prentis is 24 and is taking part in The Amelia Young Producers programme to develop his interest in heritage and culture. After graduating with a degree in Politics and International Relations in 2023, he developed his passion further through museum visits across England and by volunteering at The Amelia, where he has been involved in digitising archive material and 3D museum objects from Tunbridge Wells. He is keen to broaden his skills and deepen his understanding of the cultural sector through the programme.
Amy Haris is a recent graduate in Modern History with a particular interest in exploring alternative perspectives on the past. Her academic work has examined how countercultural movements become part of the mainstream, including research into the rise of women’s football and the international politics surrounding the Eurovision Song Contest.
Betsy Wilson, aged 23, is a graduate in Ancient History with a love of sharing stories from the past. She is especially interested in historical fashion, jewellery and textiles, and spends much of her free time crocheting. She is particularly excited to learn more about trailblazing women connected to Tunbridge Wells and to share their stories with audiences at The Amelia.
Bradley Johnson has a broad creative outlook, with interests spanning music, photography and film. He enjoys reading comic books and playing video games, and is always eager to try new experiences and connect with new people.
Freya Khan is 18 and was drawn to the programme through her passion for storytelling. With a strong love of reading and writing, she sees history as a way of connecting with the personal experiences of people in the past through narrative. She is excited to collaborate with a like-minded group to highlight voices that challenged injustice in their time and to help ensure these stories continue to inspire today.
Holly Dye, also 18 and based in Tunbridge Wells, has a keen interest in literature and writing, including an ongoing project to catalogue books that reference the town. She has a broad enthusiasm for the arts and brings a particular fondness for musical theatre. She is delighted to be part of the project.
Lukas Black is currently studying English Literature and Film at the University of Birmingham. He has a strong interest in filmmaking and creative writing, and is particularly interested in how art and media can communicate meaningful ideas and contribute positively to community life.
Lara Wells is a fine art student at the beginning of her career in the cultural sector. She is interested in local histories of activism and how uncovering them can shape contemporary perspectives. Having previously volunteered with The Amelia’s collections team, she has been struck by the depth of emotion and storytelling that objects can hold, and is passionate about sharing these narratives to create meaningful impact.