Paint the Change workshops empower young people with critical thinking, problem-solving, independence, and adaptability for real-world challenges.

In August 2025, we partnered with the Mayor’s Fund for London to deliver a 5-day intensive filmmaking workshop with 12 students from across London. This workshop was part of our recent “Creative Futures” program, which offers creative industry workshops for secondary school students. The workshops connect young people with industry professionals, provide technical skills, open career pathways, and create opportunities for creative growth that prepare them for success in the arts and beyond.

This particular workshop focused on filmmaking, which, in addition to giving young people technical skills, allows them to express their ideas and opinions through the medium. Over five days, the students gain confidence to express and share their ideas with their peers, mentors and the public. They were divided into three groups and created three short documentary films about Brick Lane in East London. Working alongside professional filmmakers, they developed ideas, wrote scripts, and learned technical skills using Sony’s Cinema Line full-frame cameras, used in Hollywood films and Netflix documentaries. They also practised interview techniques, speaking with residents, tourists, and shop owners around Brick Lane. A professional editor from the PtC team helped them with editing their films, giving them hands-on experience in post-production and seeing how their raw footage could be shaped into a final film.

The students valued the opportunity to work with professional equipment, collaborate with experts, and create films they could be proud of. They also received guidance on career routes in the film industry and the variety of jobs available to them.

Francesca Frances:
 "We didn’t just focus on one part of filmmaking; we got to understand all the different stages that go into making a film, from scriptwriting to editing. For me, editing was the most interesting part."

Aisha Price:
 "I really enjoyed meeting new people through this experience and learning technical skills that we don’t usually get to explore in a classroom. Instead of just being told how to make a film, we actually got to make one ourselves."

The Films

Group A
Social and Political Art in Brick Lane
This film explored how Brick Lane has become a platform for political discourse, where street artists and muralists raise awareness of social issues through their work. The film also captured how residents, businesses, and tourists respond to political graffiti.

Group B

Pros and Cons of Street Art in Brick Lane

This film investigated how locals and visitors feel about the area’s reputation for street art. While it attracts global attention and boosts the area’s profile, some residents and business owners see it as disruptive.

Group C
Is Commercial Street Art Real Art?
This film examined the trend of businesses adopting street art styles for advertising. It questioned whether this commercialisation undermines the roots of street art, which has traditionally been an anti-capitalist and anti-establishment form of self-expression.