We are on a mission to make genuine sector and cultural change
We are a community interest company (CIC) and not-for-profit creative agency based in Bristol led by young underrepresented creative thinkers aged 18-30.
We use our distinctive ways of working and facilitating, years of production experience and our intersectional community to do things differently and create meaningful sector change. With the aim of filling the world with beautiful stuff by and for everyone.
We’re building a movement and fighting for a better future centering the creativity of young people - join us.
We are Rising Arts Agency
Rising grew out of young people’s frustrations with how inaccessible, exclusive and exploitative the creative sector can be.
We were founded in 2016 by artist and facilitator, Kamina Walton in collaboration with young people.
Our Story
After 5 years of stewarding Rising as Director, Kamina intentionally handed over the leadership to two young people in 2021, Jess Bunyan and Euella Jackson. We’re actively continuing this tradition of handing over with young leaders to lead the agency in 5 years or less - continuing to prove why young people should be taking the reins.
As a creative agency co-led by young people, we increasingly use our unique processes, ways of working and facilitating to advocate for liberatory practices, transformational governance and inclusivity for the rest of the sector to truly thrive.
Our team
“Young doesn’t mean inexperienced or unprofessional… in fact, it’s quite the opposite”…
We advocate for young people to be in every level of decision-making, starting right here.
Our team is made of young artists, creatives, producers, facilitators and members of our community who help bring our ambitious projects and commissions to life.
We are 40% LGBTQ+, 40% POC, 60% neurodivergent, 60% women and 100% artistic bad bitches.
Together, we support our community to genuinely take up space in the sector as creative leaders and change-makers.
Euella Jackson
Co-Director
euella@rising.org.uk
I'm focused on supporting the agency to thrive - building our reputation as radical creative change-makers.
By practice, I'm a film-maker, presenter and creative producer working to galvanise apathetic audiences to do things differently. I love getting into conversations about the messy tensions of governance and sharing power with communities.
Jess Bunyan
Co-Director
jess@rising.org.uk
I'm focused on growing Rising's work to give our community more opportunities that feel good & make real change.
I'm motivated by injustice, my artistic practice is textile art (aka making big plushy things) and I'm always down to have a conversation about money and value under capitalism.
Sid Boyer
Agency Producer
sid@rising.org.uk
My role is all about nurturing our community of creatives, making space for them to dream and getting them paid to do it.
Contact me if you want to commission and resource young people to change the world. My practice is painting, installation, writing and iphone photos of ducks.
BOArd & NON-EXECs
Our Non-Exec Directors and Advisory Board is made up of a mix of independent creatives and those working for larger cultural organisations who support us to stay true to our mission and hold us to account.
They are 70% under 30 and come from a range of lived experiences that reflect our community. They model new forms of leadership and are responsible for ensuring we prioritise the interests of the community, the agency and the team at all times and strive towards creating social change.
Non-Exec Directors:
Ant Lightfoot
Jasmine Thompson
Martha Robbins
Momin Mohamed
Stacey Olika
Tsipora St Clair Knights
Advisory board:
