In recent years, I’ve been delighted to have developed a relationship with the multi-talented Marc Boothe of B3media.

And at last I’ve been able to be of some practical help by sitting on the interview panel for the organisation’s FAC Connect programme.

B3media does fantastic work helping young Black, Asian and multicultural artists find their voices and make their way in all areas of the media industry – film, TV, digital, immersive, visual arts, literature, music…

The FAC Connect programme is a British Underground (BU) initiative that seeks to support emerging talent currently underrepresented in creative tech. It provides funding, soft skills development, support and access to SXSW for an invited cohort of artists and producers.

This year, the three FAC Connect creatives ended up being Elijah Maja, Beining (Rosie) Chen and Esme Allman. You can find out more about them in the B3media newsletter here.

As part of the development support they get from B3media, they’ll be setting off to SXSW in Austin, Texas, next month for what we all hope will be a career-enhancing experience. Or a Marc puts it:

SXSW isn’t a reward. It’s a tool.

For artists working at the intersection of creativity and technology, it’s a chance to see where the field is heading — and to be seen by the people shaping it. We’ve watched previous cohorts come back transformed: not just inspired, but with relationships, clarity, and a sense that their work matters beyond the rooms they already know. That’s what we want for Esme, Elijah, and Rosie.