In the face of educational budget cuts and an ever-growing cultural chasm as people from lower socio-economic backgrounds are locked out of the creative industries, initiatives like London’s Holiday Club are more vital than ever. 

Founded by Bisoye Babalola in an effort to give 16-25 year-olds from across the globe the chance to dip their toes into creative roles ranging from photography and art direction, to fashion and graphic design, the summer school has seen industry insiders like Casabalnca’s Charaf Tajer and Dazed editorial director Kacion Mayers head up dynamic workshops created to illuminate and inspire.

“I’ve spent the last six years building Holiday Club up and I’m so proud to have been able to support and work with young people from all backgrounds,” says Babalola. “We still have a lot of work to do, and it’s sometimes very hard with lack of access to funding. We part-fund the Summer School ourselves but we’re going to keep fighting and find innovative ways to accelerate and provide space for young people to learn and combat long-term unemployment and crime.”

Coming out of every season’s Holiday Club is an all killer, no filler zine, which is created by the kids enlisted on the programme and stocked in London by the likes of H-Town concept store, 100 Shoreditch, and The Standard Hotel. In the most recent edition, there’s an interview with Tajer, as well as articles delving into Saul Nash and Priya Ahluwalia’s stellar careers in fashion. “This cohort was so hard-working, they did such a good job with the shoots for the second issue of our zine. They were so open to trying things outside of their initial interest,” adds Babalola.

As the zine gets its release, we hear from founder Babalola and attendees Andrew Roberts and Chibuikem Chimbo on their Holiday Club experience, the skills they took away, and what it’s like to bring a magazine to life for the first time. 

BISOYE BABALOLA

“You might be thinking Holiday Club is a place where young people go to socialise and have fun while on school holidays, but I’m here to tell you it’s almost the opposite. You don’t necessarily need to be a creative to apply, but you have to be interested in the creative industry and be willing to work had – every day we come together to plan out and deliver editorial pieces that spotlight the careers of notable people in fashion and music which make it into the yearly Holiday Club zine. 

The Holiday Club workshops aim to educate and advise up-and-coming creatives on navigating the creative industry, with input and support from industry specialists who collaborate with the participants to produce timeless art whether it’s through photography, styling, set design, make-up, floral design, graphic design, grooming, or editorial direction. 

Holiday Club not only embraces creativity but community also. There are only 25 spaces at the summer school and participants can apply globally – this year there were people from as far afield as Italy and Scotland. Through the summer school, you work individually and a lot of times in groups based on key industry departments. This allows you to meet new people and start new friendships. 

Each Friday an open day is held where various industry professionals or agencies come in and share more about the work they do in 1:1 conversations as opposed to large groups. This time around, we met representatives from production company North Six, casting director Mischa Notcutt, and Wonderland editor-in-chief Toni Blaze.

Issue 02: The Origins was the outcome of this summer’s sessions. We got to visit Casablanca Paris’s London atelier, speak to and interview people from different departments, and sit down for a conversation with its founder and creative director Charaf Tajer. And the support and guidance from Holiday Club doesn’t end when the summer does: after the workshops wrapped, attendees were matched with mentors and employment opportunities from brands like Dazed, A-COLD-WALL*, and lots more.”

ANDREW ROBERTS

“I came across the opportunity to take part in Holiday Club through sneaker retailer Offspring when they collaborated – as an Offspring community member who loves collecting trainers and discovered a recent love for photography, it felt like a no-brainer to apply. I still thank God to this day that I made the right decision, because otherwise I wouldn’t be able to tell the story I’m sharing now. 

My first day there felt like the first day in secondary school and I was quite shy because it’s how I tend to be with new people. However, through exercises taught by art director Sara Tamby Lim, I was able to open up. I even developed an interest in production as I was taught the importance of the producer role within campaigns and projects where they’re included. Dazed’s editorial director Kacion Mayers also offered some powerful words which stayed with me: “Keep going, and just document everything.” Photography is much bigger than just taking a picture.

This experience overall has been a blast. It introduced me to friends who are now considered family as we stay in contact, support each other and collaborate together on future projects. I have to pass my flowers to Bisoye Babalola for starting the Holiday Club. I wouldn’t have gone as far as I have if it wasn’t for her, and I’m proud to be part of something impactful for the next generation of creatives. I hope they really look into Holiday Club because it’s an environment where you can prosper, be in a room full of knowledge and talent, and find out so much where you can’t elsewhere.”

CHIBUIKEM CHIMBO

“Holiday Club has been a very wholesome experience. My first magazine credits are in this issue, and not for one role either. I now have credits for interviews, photography, production, and styling. Holiday Club also introduced me to mentors and friends, who all feel like family, given the time we spent together during the summer right up to now – we were even together on my birthday. 

I spotted this opportunity and I applied because I wanted to gain experience and network with other creatives. Honestly, it was my greatest decision this year, and with hindsight, to think that I almost didn’t apply is crazy. 

Another newfound interest of mine is editorial design. [Graphic designer] Joe Diver taught me how to implement design principles in magazines. Exploring different ways of displaying photography with text and graphics was so fun. Since then, I have continued to play with graphic and editorial design. 

The reality, that I loved working roles that I didn’t even know existed, highlights how many possibilities are out there unbeknownst to us. Holiday Club proved itself to be the best place to go, for experiencing several roles within the creative industry, to help guide creatives when deciding their future careers. I am forever grateful to Bisoye Babalola for creating Holiday Club because of the guidance I have received, through mentorship, and for introducing me to future collaborators. 

The process of creating this issue was very exciting. Everyone came together to form an amazing body of work, and the resulting magazine is a testament to that. The energy in the room at the magazine launch showed how proud we were of what we created and our delight in what the future holds for us. 

I am most proud of my photos of Taiba. Seeing my work, in the magazine and online, causes me to reflect on how much Holiday Club has helped me progress creatively. I studied mechanical engineering at university, with absolutely no desire to do so, and vowed to commit to fashion once I left. I struggled to see how I would be able to do that with my lack of experience but Holiday Club has been a great help in bridging that gap for me.”