STUDENTS celebrated bank holiday Monday by exploring their creative sides in a music and film event designed to unleash their inner creativity, Kate Ferguson. Poets, rappers and film makers held workshops with youngsters at the Heritage Inn in Cricklew

STUDENTS celebrated bank holiday Monday by exploring their creative sides in a music and film event designed to 'unleash their inner creativity,' Kate Ferguson.

Poets, rappers and film makers held workshops with youngsters at the Heritage Inn in Cricklewood Broadway, in a day-long event designed to inspire students to take up the arts.

performers later took to the stage to show off their skills.

Stefan 'Styfa' Tetsola, pictured, an 18-year-old poet and rapper from Harlesden Road, Harlesden, performed a rap and his poem, deceit your enemies with success.

He said it is the ability of music and poetry to challenge and inspire people - and stereotypes - that motivated him to take up writing.

He said: "I wrote the poem when I was thinking about how in life there are people who try to get you down and I thought instead of getting angry at the person you should prove them wrong by becoming successful."

Paulette Harris-German, from Willesden High Road in Willesden, who organised the event, said she wanted to tap into the inherent creativity and originality of youth.

She said: "I used to be a teacher and I was struck by it was so hard to see the young people I worked with who were so hopeful at school change into people who were so dark and aggressive when they were on their estate.

"In the schools these children were under performing but in their Myspace websites they were blossoming creatively.

"They were running businesses online but in school they were failing maths and English. It didn't make any sense.

"I wanted to inspire people and get them to engage with the dynamic cultural and musical activities."

kate.ferguson@archant.co.uk