In a time where the job market for graduates is the worst it's ever been, Bristol based Rising Arts Agency have placed youths at the centre by announcing their new co-directors: Ellayah May Woodward Lindsey and Mitoshka Alkova. The appointment on June 17th marked the creative agency's ten year anniversary.
By Alex Boersma, Literature Columnist 25/26
Rising Arts Agency is a Bristol based social enterprise run by young creatives. They advocate for 'sector and cultural change through research projects, industry consultation and creative agency services'. It was founded in 2016 by Kamina Walton who, as an artist, coach and practitioner herself, identified the 'radical potential' of youths as leaders in the arts sector as well as 'the need for alternative models for supporting underrepresented young artists to thrive'. It is refreshing to see an agency prioritise young people and the arts. Since 2018 they have supported fifty four young people onto leadership boards.
Ellayah and Mitoshka have taken over from Jess Bunyan and Euella Jackson who held the role of co-directors for the previous five years. Jess and Euella helped strengthen the agency's 'youth-led consultancy, research and commissioning offers' by creating the Caring Work Cultures programme. Their 2025 Invisible Doors report in collaboration with Channel 4 explored the barriers faced for young people entering and re-entering the creative and cultural industries. Their podcast in collaboration with King's College London further explored these barriers and industry power dynamics. Further, the pair widened the agency's recruitment process for the first time when seeking new co-directors.
The outgoing directors explained "being a leader can be hard and lonely, and we believe co-leadership is an effective model for combatting some of that and the burnout we’re seeing across the sector. We hope that through our 5 year terms, we can inspire more organisations and leaders to step aside for more diverse leadership at the time".
The pair are succeeded by Ellayah and Mitoshka who have big plans for the agency's future. Ellayah is a Bristol raised illustrator, facilitator and mentor with experience supporting neurodivergent people and joined Rising in 2023 and later became their Community Producer last year before now becoming co-director. Mitoshka is a Documentary filmmaker and multi-media and typewriter artist and has experience working as a producer and access support for various artists in the past few years. She moved to Bristol a few years ago.
The pair are excited about their new roles with Ellayah explaining "It’s been such an incredible 18 months serving as Rising’s Community Producer and I am so grateful to be stepping into this role with our incredible community. Being able to work alongside Mitoshka is a dream come true and we’re just getting started!". Mitoshka exclaims "I am excited to take over Rising with Ellayah May and advocate for all the radical things it stands for. The community has been so welcoming, and made the transition feel gentle and empowering. The future looks bright!".
Feature Image: Epigram/ Josh O'Connor
Will you take a look at Rising Arts Agency?
