Since September 2026, the Fitzwilliam Museum Learning team has been working with a group of 12 Young Producers.
This new and permanent offer brings youth voice into our programming, whilst providing an inclusive space for 18 to 25 year olds. They can go behind the scenes, co-produce events, express themselves and be creative.
“Coming to the museum is the highlight of my week. Being a Young Producer has brought me such joy.” – Young Producer
Their first outcome is a display of objects made in response to the Tau o Mai | Journeys with Mai exhibition. Youth voice and cross-cultural exchange are at the heart of the group’s sensitive creative responses and their curatorial approach.
The project started with a deep-dive into Polynesian history and culture. The Young Producers met SaVĀge K’lub, toured the exhibition and explored the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology collection at the Centre for Material Culture.
Inspired by the Polynesian concept of VĀ (the sacred connection between people, objects and place), the group explored gifting, skills sharing and knowledge exchange as ways of honouring Mai’s culture.
A research trip to the Sainsbury Centre, a lei-making workshop led by Crystal Te Moananui-Squares and Kapa printing workshops with Dalani Tahany upskilled the Young Producers to produce their own individual responses.
“This project has taken me out of my comfort zone a lot and has made me more confident for it. I also feel like I’m getting a lot of valuable experience within the heritage area.” – Young Producer
Throughout the project the Learning Team sought guidance and support from Polynesian practitioners. Lyall Hakaraia was commissioned to develop a set of Tikanga (protocols) to aid sensitive engagement with Polynesian cultural values. Facilitating sessions and providing connections with Polynesian artists, our relationship with Lyall was instrumental to the creative process.
This work is part of a wider national partnership programme with National Portrait Gallery in London, Bradford District Museums and Galleries, and The Box, Plymouth. The Young Producers’ work recently travelled to Plymouth alongside the touring masterpiece Portrait of Mai. Their artwork was part of a display celebrating each city’s youth engagement work.
It’s been a privilege to collaborate with the Young Producers and see their creative confidence and collective identity grow. Keep an eye out for their next project, a festival-style event across the Fitzwilliam Museum on Saturday 1 August.
Read more about how the Fitzwilliam worked with young people in the Happy Place project.
