The launch event at FishTank

A SOCIAL enterprise which provides young creatives with an opportunity to develop their ideas, collaborate with each other and network with investors has opened its doors in King’s Cross.

FishTank won a competition that saw them awarded the keys to the empty unit on Beconsfield Street in November 2022. They have now transformed the space to house a gallery, an editing suite, and a workshop area.
It hosted a launch party last Thursday which saw local young people get a first look at the space.

“The Friday community launch was very special and important,” said Stephen Griffith, who founded FishTank.

“We were just overwhelmed with young creatives from communities that don’t usually get this opportunity. It was very powerful.”

The new space will see between eight and 15 young people become “resident creatives” at FishTank, meaning they will benefit from coaching and advice from the FishTank team, and get the chance to exhibit their work in the new ground-floor exhibition space.

Mr Griffith told the Tribune that FishTank are still working out how each day at the hub will be structured, what type of workshops will be offered, and what exhibitions will look like.

“We want to manage the space so young creatives can grow and develop. I want the young people to create the direction. They’re often far ahead of what we know [as adults],” he said. “We want them to come in with an idea, a skill, but it’s about pushing the boundaries, it’s about excitement.”

Harvey Domingos was one of the first young people to benefit from the FishTank project when it began as a partnership with Havas, a communications agency that has offices in King’s Cross.

Mr Domingos joined in 2019, and was given access to office space to help him grow his marketing business.

“I was just on the streets and I always had ideas to do stuff, but never a place to do it,” he said.

“Steve’s introduced me to loads of people over time to develop my business… and the space has been really helpful in terms of allowing me to take meetings. It’s so encouraging to have people around you that support you.”