What’s been happening on Voice this Spring?

ON THE MAGAZINE

Tom Beasley, Voice Editor

AI is arguably the most pressing issue affecting the creative industries today, so it was a delight to tackle it with our recent editorial series: ‘Artificial/Intelligent?’. 

Across 10 pieces – three of which enabled our young writers to receive a paid commission – we explored the ways in which this new technology is changing the arts and culture landscape. With chatbots and AI assistants increasingly inveigling themselves into our lives – they’re in our phones now, as well as just about every bit of computer software we open – it was fascinating to explore AI in the arts from a nuanced perspective.

But now, I’m excited to loosen the reins a little in the next few months. By the time you’re reading this, I’ll be away on paternity leave after welcoming my first children – twins, I don’t do things by halves. While I’m not at my desk, our young writers will be sharing their takes on the first 12 months of a new government in our series ‘One Year of Starmer’.

I’m also thrilled to be handing control of the editorial schedule to Voice’s first ever Guest Editor: Elisha Pearce. Elisha has been a key part of our Voice Community for many months now and we’re delighted to give her the opportunity to step up to run her own editorial series, ‘After Pride’, in which she will examine LGBTQ+ art and the ways to keep the flame alive once the rainbow bunting of Pride Month has been taken down.

It’s a very exciting time on the editorial side of things at Voice, with the next month set to prove that the young writers we work with are very capable of driving the agenda themselves and turning Voice into what it should be – a platform for their voices to be heard.

Dayna Hewitt – Voice Coordinator

It has been a busy couple of months for our network of Voice Reviewers! We have welcomed 30 new members to the network, completed over 100 reviews in 2025 so far and attended 4 festivals – Borderlines, BFI Flare, Brighton Fringe and SO Festival. 

The next few months see Voice Reviewers cover Edinburgh Fringe, ALSO Festival, Mansfield Film Festival, GDIF, Shambala Festival and MADE Festival. 

Read about Voice’s Training and Outreach work here.