In its second year now, Island Co.Lab continues to work with talent with substance, those who are making moves in their circles and contributing to culture.

The creative resource of dancers, DJs, stylists, bloggers, video extras, photographers, videographers, communities, visual artists, brands and charities has been built up via regular networking events, outreach and community call-outs.

Island Co.Lab offers opportunities to work with artists and partners, giving the community the chance to build their own profiles and portfolios.

A closed resource (Instagram account) Co.Lab, which is on its way to 500 members, is small but perfectly formed as each member is carefully accepted based on their skills and enthusiasm to join the community.

Regular low-level events (networking drinks, dinner and artist events) bring new talent in to the community. Each event has a different collaboration mix each time, allowing us to explore partnerships with different talent, communities, brands and charities.

Co.Lab celebrated its first birthday in February by sharing ‘love stories’ of creatives who had met at the events and expanded their networks.

Co.Lab events have also given Island artists the opportunity to perform to a creative crowd, and community members have brought another layer of creativity to their launches, for example the collaboration with the WAH community to celebrate Angel’s WOMAN album launch. The events also often allow creatives to give back – we helped the Mayor of London announce his London Needs You Alive campaign and collaborated with BBZ London to raise money for the House of St Barnabus’ Women’s Shelter. We introduced the new Island House to some of our community members, collaborating with Nando’s who provided food on the evening and also updated the members on their new campaign to help fight Malaria in South Africa.

Our work with the Co.Lab community not only reinforces Island’s values of being a record label which is open to ideas, brings fresh talent together and gives them new opportunities to grow – but also keeps us inspired and enthused.