We look back at a truly transformative day filled with free workshops, invaluable networking, and a UV silent disco – Life Hack 2023 was bigger and bolder than ever before.

In February, over seventy 11–25-year-olds attended an entirely free event at The Factory in Porth, enabling them to explore their creative sides and discover a whole host of industries and arts. Those who took part got to meet artistic professionals, allowing them to ask one-to-one questions about their careers, and learn first-hand about the different areas of creative life.

We hosted interactive workshops which included theatre, radio, set and costume design, film making, music production, MCing, creative AI, comic book creation and much more.

Life Hack was born out of our Together Stronger partnership with Valleys Kids and funded by the Arts Council of Wales and Welsh Government.  This is an event which originated in the South Wales Valleys, and it exists to fuel young people’s curiosity and passion for creative avenues – sharing with them an inclusive space to express themselves freely and meet new people their age and experts from industries they might not have had access to before.

Life Hack’s purpose is to fire the imagination of the next generation of creatives and to show young people from South Wales that that there are many eclectic creative avenues on offer. Here we can show them how they can shape these skills to suit their individuality and how collaboration can spark unlimited opportunities. Arts and creative spaces should be for everyone and anyone and this free event goes a little bit toward breaking down any barriers that may be in place.

Pick up a mic, press record, take centre stage and show us your talents. An audience awaits.