Sticks and Stones Studios

04/07/2026

THE NEXT WAVE IS HERE.

Not everyone gets featured.

These are artists who are creating, building and shaping culture through their talent, creativity and commitment to their craft.

Inside the latest edition of Sticks Stones Magazine, we're shining a spotlight on five voices helping define what's next:

🎤
🎤
🎧
🎤@ lil jam
🎧 .sound

Different journeys. Different sounds. Different stories.

One thing in common:

They're creating impact.

At Sticks & Stones, we believe culture moves forward when talent is seen, heard and celebrated. That's why we're committed to providing a platform for the artists, creatives and changemakers shaping the future of our communities.

This isn't just a magazine.

It's a movement built around Culture. Creativity. Community.

📖 Read the latest edition online

📥 Download free

🔗 Sticks & Stones Magazine | Join the Culture https://share.google/xTKVnY0TrxctSWEZR

👇 Which artist should more people be paying attention to right now?

NorthEastCulture UKMusic IndependentArtists EmergingArtists KayGreyson KemaKay NinitheDJ LilJam DJSushi BlackCulture MusicCulture CreativeCommunity FutureVoices

25/05/2026

Africa Day often arrives wrapped in performance.

Flags. Fabrics. Panels. Corporate slogans about “celebrating diversity.”

But beneath the aesthetics, Africa and the diaspora remain trapped in a painful political contradiction.

What exactly are we celebrating when African unity itself remains fragile?

While leaders speak of solidarity, Afrophobic violence continues in South Africa. Across Europe and the UK, far-right nationalism and anti-immigration rhetoric are becoming mainstream. Fear is no longer whispered at the margins it is entering policy.

The recent death of Congolese man Yves Sakila in Dublin painfully reminded many of us how fragile Black existence can still feel globally. Meanwhile, Congo continues to bleed in near silence, Sudan burns, and Ebola outbreaks continue to expose fragile healthcare systems across parts of Africa.

So we must ask difficult questions:

Why does Africa remain rich in resources but politically and economically vulnerable?

Why do African crises only seem urgent when validated by Western institutions?

And why, decades after independence, are too many young Africans still inheriting broken systems, gatekeeping politics and leadership disconnected from ordinary people?

Perhaps the deeper tragedy is this: colonialism formally ended, but many of its operating systems survived.

At the same time, Europe itself is entering a dangerous political moment. Across the continent, nationalism is resurging under the language of “protecting borders” and “national identity.” History has already shown us where these politics can lead.

Ironically, Britain’s Conservative opposition is now led by a Black woman, Kemi Badenoch, yet meaningful Black political participation still struggles to translate into deeper structural power and representation.

Symbolism alone is not transformation.

So perhaps Africa Day should not simply be a celebration.

Perhaps it should be an interrogation.

Of leadership.
Of nationalism.
Of division.
Of who benefits when Africans and diaspora communities remain disconnected from each other.

But despite all this, hope survives.

Because a generation is rising that is less interested in inherited political theatre and more interested in building new systems through culture, technology, storytelling, organising and solidarity.

Maybe African unity will not begin in presidential palaces.

Maybe it begins with ordinary people refusing fear, rejecting tribalism and choosing humanity over division.

Africa Day should not only ask us where we come from.

It should challenge us to decide what kind of future we are willing to build together.

18/05/2026

Welcome to the new era of Sticks & Stones Magazine.

What started as a publication has evolved into something much bigger a growing creative ecosystem dedicated to amplifying culture, spotlighting talent and creating opportunities for the next generation of creatives, storytellers and changemakers.

Since 2022, Sticks & Stones Magazine has been committed to telling authentic stories from the communities, creatives and cultural voices shaping the future. Today, we’re proud to introduce a bold new look, renewed vision and expanded platform as we prepare for the release of our latest issue.

This next chapter brings:
• A refreshed visual identity
• A new editorial direction
• New writers and contributors
• Expanded creative collaborations
• Bigger distribution and reach
• More opportunities for emerging talent

As a bi-monthly print and digital publication with a reach of over 45,000 per issue across all platforms, Sticks & Stones Magazine sits at the heart of a wider creative ecosystem designed to connect media, culture, talent and opportunity.

The magazine acts as both a platform and a pipeline helping emerging creatives gain visibility, build portfolios, connect with collaborators, access audiences and unlock pathways into paid creative work, partnerships and industry opportunities.

Through editorial storytelling, digital media, radio, events, community engagement and creative collaborations, we aim to create an infrastructure where talent is not only discovered, but supported and developed.

Our distribution reflects that mission. The magazine is accessed across airports in the North East, council libraries, community hubs, barbershops, salons, Teesside Archives and grassroots cultural spaces keeping culture connected directly to the communities it represents.

We are actively looking to connect with:
• Writers & journalists
• Editors
• Graphic designers
• Photographers & videographers
• Models & stylists
• Brands & sponsors
• Creative and community partners

This is more than content.
It’s community.
It’s collaboration.
It’s culture.
It’s opportunity.

The next generation is already shaping culture.
We’re here to help amplify it.

15/05/2026

15/05/2026

15/05/2026

An evening that reminded us why creative education, journalism and storytelling still matter.

Sticks & Stones Studios was proud to sponsor the Global Perspectives Award at the 2026 Journalism Awards hosted by the School of Arts & Creative Industries at Teesside University

To see so many young journalists, creators and storytellers gathered in one room — full of ideas, ambition and courage — was genuinely inspiring. From community reporting and sports journalism to fashion, audio, video and social content creation, the breadth of talent on display reflected the future of modern media.

A huge congratulations to all nominees and winners across the evening. Special recognition as well to students pushing conversations beyond borders and bringing fresh global perspectives into local storytelling — something we deeply believe in as an organisation rooted in culture, community and representation.

We also want to acknowledge the incredible work of the Teesside University journalism team and faculty for continuing to create platforms where young people can develop their voices, confidence and careers. The atmosphere in the room showed what happens when education, industry and creativity come together with purpose.

It was also powerful to stand alongside fellow sponsors and industry partners supporting the next generation of media talent across Teesside and the North East. These moments matter. They build confidence, networks, opportunity and belief.

At Sticks & Stones Studios, supporting emerging talent is not a side project it is part of our mission. Through our ecosystem spanning publishing, broadcasting, digital storytelling, live production and youth-led creative pathways, we remain committed to helping create spaces where young people from all backgrounds can be seen, heard and celebrated.

Congratulations once again to everyone involved in a brilliant evening. The future of journalism and creative media is in very good hands.

Photocredit:

08/05/2026

We’re pleased to announce that Sticks & Stones Studios is an official Media Partner for the UK–Africa Business Growth & Innovation Summit 2026, alongside our broadcasting platform One Tees Radio

At Sticks & Stones Studios, we believe media is more than content — it is infrastructure for connection, visibility, opportunity and growth.

This partnership aligns perfectly with our mission of building platforms that connect culture, business, innovation and community through:

• Broadcasting
• Publishing
• Digital storytelling
• Live events
• Youth-led creative pathways

The summit represents an important opportunity to strengthen conversations between the UK and Africa around entrepreneurship, investment, technology, culture and future collaboration.

As part of our media partnership, our ecosystem will help capture and amplify the voices, stories and ideas emerging from the event through radio, video, interviews, social content and editorial coverage.

📍 Leonardo Hotel, Middlesbrough
📅 Wednesday 10th June 2026
⏰ 10:00AM

We look forward to supporting an event focused on shaping the future of UK–Africa business and innovation.