Two weeks into 2026 and there’s still a healthy supply of good intentions, new leaves being turned over and positive regimes followed. So, before you fall into old procrastination habits (and the rest), here’s some inspiration for anyone considering learning a new skill or two in the year ahead.

For a solid dose of inspiration, we profile the latest successful intake of students awarded a full scholarship in the Here East Scholarship programme, plus there are details of how to apply for this year’s places.

There’s a reminder of the stunning offering from the top universities that now call the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park home in our creative industries career opportunities overview published a couple of years back, and why not take a deep dive into the many other creative training and learning opportunities available to East Londoners around here while you’re at it.

🎨 Eleven years ago, as part of the Hackney WickED Arts Festival, an installation by long-standing Hackney Wick–based artist Duncan “Petro” Weston was unveiled as the backdrop to the performance space at beloved canalside music haunt, Grow. Now, after years of live bands and general revelries taking place in front of the artwork, Petro has returned to refresh his installation for a new generation of revellers, which will be on display for the first time at a special free event tonight, Wed 14th Jan from 6pm, alongside an additional temporary installation by Weston in the Mezz Gallery.

🪞Reflections 1 is a brand new interactive public art installation, just unveiled at Victory Park, East Village, (see main pic above). Artist Russ Jones’ mirrored cube invites moments of self expression and optimism as the new year unfolds. Each side of the piece encourages a different response, from writing what you love about yourself to answering the playful question “Is this art?”, leaving a doodle an an ever-growing tangle of words and thoughts. Stop by to add your mark or simply take a moment to, er, reflect. Until 2nd Feb.

🎥 Head to The Bath House on Mon 19th Jan for screenings of 1920s Avant Garde Shorts with a live music score played by mutterichbindoom, at the latest intriguing community art event from kinomad, which aims to unearth films that disturb, provoke, and demand conversation.

🛼 Enjoy proper vibes on wheels at the first Skate & Chill of the year, taking place on Sun 25th Jan at School 21 (Indoor Sports Hall) in Pitchford Street, brought to you by local community enthusiasts Skate Cabal, who we’ve featured previously in The Wick in this interview.

👗 It’s the launch of the new monthly Renée Community Eco Material Kilo Sale + Textile Swap on Sat 31th Jan, where you can meet fellow makers, swap materials, and stock up on inspiration to keep creativity circulating at the launch event of this monthly series at Arbeit Studios Trowbridge Gardens. You find unique eco textiles, leather, paper, mixed samples (tiles, wood, felt, etc.) at unbeatable kilo-sale prices, with 10% off when you bring textile items to swap.

🥗 You’ve gotta love a sustainable, affordable way to eat that supports local farmers, too. Growing Communities Veg Scheme offers a weekly bag of organic, seasonal veg for you to pick up right in the heart of Hackney Wick (at Grow in Main Yard), or from 30 other collection points around Hackney, Haringey and Tower Hamlets. The Wick readers can get 10% off all orders until the end of Feb simply by adding the code NEWYEAR2026 to your basket, too.

🏺Renowned ceramicist Forrest Middelton visits Shacklewell Lane’s GG Studios on Sat 17th Jan for an intensive, interactive one-day masterclass on Volumetric Image Transfer. Participants will learn his signature technique for adding silkscreened patterns to wheel-thrown pots, alongside insights into his world-class architectural tile production.

SPONSOR

If you ❤️ The Wick, always click our advertiser links to support us…
It only takes a second! 😉 

🎤 The first QE Live of the year sees a powerhouse of local talent, spanning spoken word, comedy, and cabaret on stage at Nico’s this Thurs 15th Jan. The line-up includes Chiyo, Lucinda B.Hind, Rosie O’Comedy, and NEYO 10Y, with your exuberant host Rhys’s Pieces and music in between acts by resident DJ Spectrum XIO.

🍺 There’s an exclusive free tasting party for the premier alcohol-free brew by the innovators at Drop Project, Downshift AF, at The Lord Napier this Thu 15th Jan. It’s a hazy alcohol-free New England Pale Ale featuring Mosaic and Citra hops with a splash of yuzu, and comes paired with a high-energy soundtrack courtesy of DJ Kenzie on the night.

🆓 Origins is back and taking over the main room at Colour Factory on Fri 16th Jan for another popular Free Rave of high-octane house, techno, and trance. It’s loud, it’s dark, and it’s exactly what a January weekend ordered.

🎧 The current winter residency by Next Door Records continues in the Crate Brewery Taproom this Fri 16th Jan with the label’s own Thom Parris behind the decks.

🎺 Legendary percussive musician Orphy Richardson and equally acclaimed, Hackney-born vocalist, composer and actor Cleveland Watkiss play an intimate Canalside Sessions Sunday afternoon jam at Grow this Sun 18th Jan, with brunch for the early crowd, too.

🤝 The Community Anchor Network (CAN) is hiring a manager to lead a new 12 month National Lottery-funded project. The role involves building relationships with 120–150 local organisations based in and around the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park to strengthen community power. Interested candidates email [email protected] to express interest. Closing date Jan 23rd.

🗓️ UCL East are recruiting an Events Assistant to support the development and delivery of the next one-day Trellis symposium, taking place in April 2026. You’ll be working one day a week for three months, making it a great opportunity for someone looking to gain their first skills and experience in admin and events coordination. Apply by Wed 28 Jan.

🧵 Local charity organisation Caramel Rock is looking for skilled seamstresses to help with high-quality garment construction, samples, and repairs for their creative projects. Joining their community-driven team offers the chance to make a real impact. Interested candidates should send a CV, portfolio, or a brief summary of their experience to [email protected] now.

🎭 As construction continues apace on their brand new home, The Yard Theatre are looking for a Development Manager to join the team and help them navigate the most exciting time in their history. Applications by Wed Jan 28th.

📡 Hackney’s new Local Area Activation Fund  is offering grants of £1,500 and £5,000 for local high street initiatives, so if you’ve got a quirky project or a collaborative event idea that supports the local economy with grassroots energy and sustainable growth, apply by 25^th Jan.

🚮 The North London Community Fund (NLCF) is now open, with a £1million funding commitment to support projects that prevent waste to make a real difference in local communities. If your network supports residents in Hackney and you’ve got a great idea for a waste prevention project, grants of up to £20,000 are available for 2026–27. Applications by 16th Feb.

💚 Hackney Green Business Grant Fund has just been re-launched, after a successful funding round last year. Grants of up to £10,000 are available to Hackney-based businesses for projects that improve the sustainability and environmental performance of their operations and the buildings they operate from. Apply by 18th Jan.

Loughborough are also offering Micro Internships that place their students with local businesses next March and April, and Collaborative Dissertation opportunities where students are matched with the topic of your choice to study throughout 2026.

👋🏻 The University of Staffordshire has launched a new fully-funded Microplacement Scheme, offering local organisations an opportunity to bring students onto their staff for 120-hours of funded activity across a wide range of potential projects - pretty much anything that supports them in building and applying their skills. Limited to 31 placements so apply now.

🧘🏼 Grow London Local Coffee Friday, Fri 6th Feb is chance to meet GLL’s Business Support Managers (and book a free consultation), meet new potential business partners, or connect with old ones who share similar goals and challenges, all over free coffee and pastries at Fish Island’s lovely community studio space, Social Yoga.