MADE IN LUTON#2

The next generation of Luton’s creative talent are in good hands, thanks to a people-powered community interest company called Revoluton Arts. Having secured funding from the Bloomberg Philanthropies Digital Accelerator Program to commission four local artists, the Luton-based collective can now look towards new horizons in developing young people’s skills and realising their ambitions.

“Young people have absolutely been at the heart of Revoluton Arts since its inception. We have been running since 2015 as an Arts Council-funded project. We were incorporated as a community interest company in 2020,” explained Lindsey Pugh, Revoluton Arts’ CEO and Creative Director.

“We were put forward to Bloomberg Philanthropies. Now we’re one of the 100 organisations in the UK and USA being supported by them.

“Our first project outside of our Arts Council work, which is very community-focused, is actually a piece of youth theatre. So we’re expanding what we do. We are a young town. We are very much about giving young people opportunities to take part, learn skills, have fun and look at potential professional pathways into the creative industries.”

One of the four beneficiaries is Sonia Chowdury (pictured above), 25, an aspiring filmmaker who has already made some ripples in the pond with a short film, Gangs of Luton.

“Revoluton are the best for the young and creative in Luton. When I was 18 there was this thing called the Monologue Slam. In Luton, Revoluton Arts facilitated it, which was the first time I’d heard of them. There was a junior heat round and I actually won. I then started an indie film group called Hidden Tiger Films. Then one of my film crew said, ‘why don’t you apply for a commission?’” said Sonia.

“The fact that they had capability to take on four creative people from Luton was amazing. They have dancing, acting, open mike nights and producer hubs. I used to think that things like this only existed in London.”

Sonia is focusing her commission on producing a Netflix-style documentary about the town, while hopefully giving a leg-up to others who want to get into the mix.

“I prefer to be behind the camera now. I want to be a screenwriter and we’re going to start filming towards the end of this year.

“I picked two things. One is Bury Park, as that’s where I grew up, and where there is so much culture. I want to show it in a positive light, but more of a real representation.

“The other thing I targeted was young people in arts. The opportunities aren’t always there. So I really want to tap into someone from the same background as me, and give them this chance to be a runner, hold the boom pole, and see that filmmaking process. People do make careers out of it and, even if you’re that person from Bury Park, you can do it too.”