The Faces of Change: Kristy
After celebrating many of The Agency Alumni Agents in Series 1, we’re shining the spotlight on the powerhouse team behind The Agency of Change. These are the passionate creatives who turn ideas into impact - visionaries working together to inspire change and drive our mission forward.
For this article, we’re shifting the spotlight to The National Team, based remotely and also at The Agency Headquarters in London.
Hear from Kristy Cheng, our National Team Coordinator who joined The Agency in 2024. She brings cool, calm energy to the table, helping ensure the smooth delivery of our mission across all 6 locations in the UK and Northern Ireland.
Kristy works closely with the National team members Dr Andrew Westle, National Programme Manager as well Kate Bradnam, Methodology and Facilitation Lead.
This year will see them expand The Agency of Change into a new exciting direction, so scroll down to hear from Kristy and keep an eye on our socials for more exciting updates!
Kristy Q&A
When did you join The Agency and what inspired you to join?
I joined The Agency National Team in June 2024, and I am still very inspired by the people and projects within The Agency. Seeing how young people grow through creative activities always brings me a smile from the bottom of my heart. What The Agency stands for aligns with my passion for supporting creative projects with social impact, particularly people for people from underserved communities – that’s why I am here!
In your own words, what's your role at The Agency?
As The Agency National Coordinator, I work closely with partners across the UK, primarily supporting administration and communications nationally. My role involves working with Agents, Alumni and partners to ensure they have the right support and resources to thrive. Lately, I have been focusing on developing Agency Alumni programmes, a series of online workshops designed to enhance skills and reconnect Alumni with the Agency network. These initiatives make sure the Agents journeys doesn’t end when Agents finish Cycle 1 or 2, enabling them to sustain their projects, connect with like-minded people and stay engaged with the Agency!
Now if you had to describe your role in one word, what would it be?
Bridge. I see my role as bridging connections between different people – whether it is introducing new people to the Agency, bringing together Agents so they can exchange ideas, or reconnecting Alumni Agents to stay engaged in our network. Working with Agents across the UK also enables me to see the connections between different projects, so I can help link Agents with Alumni and professionals who can support them.
What’s a hidden gem in one of The Agency Territories that everyone should know about?
Although the Agency’s methodology is rooted in theatre-making, people working for the Agency come from diverse creative backgrounds! In the Agency land we have people who worked as teachers, gym trainers, photographers and more, each bringing unique value and perspectives to the programme.
I am based in London’s Battersea Arts Centre and come from a Visual Arts background. I majored in Art History at university and worked in cultural institutions ranging from galleries to museums. When I was studying Art History, I used to think art and creativity were limited to paintings, sculptures and installations. Seeing Agents bring their projects to life in various forms like podcasts, rage rooms and rap tournaments, has expanded my understanding of creativity and opened many possibilities.
What do you think makes The Agency stand out from other creative programmes?
The Agency stands out as it supports diverse creative projects. Most creative programmes are focused on a specific creative form, yet projects in the Agency programme projects take different forms such as walking group, community film and even self-defence club. However, the creative form is not at the core of Agent’s project – Agents first explore their deepest desire, the issues that matter most to them; then they go on thinking about the project’s form. The Agency programme gives young people real agency over their lives, empowering them to create meaningful change in their lives and their community.
Who has been one of your biggest inspirations or role models (inside or outside The Agency)?
One of my biggest inspirations is Olafur Eliasson, an artist who works with natural elements like light, air, and water, transforming them into immersive experiences that challenge our perceptions. His work constantly reminds me that creativity is embedded in our everyday lives. One of his installations, Room for One Colour left a profound impact on me. It features yellow lamps that alter our perception of light, making everything appear grey after prolonged seeing. This fascinating optical effect made me reflect on how our eyes perceive and process information - something I had often taken for granted.
Another remarkable work, Your Blind Passenger, is a long, narrow tunnel filled with fog and light. Walking through it, I felt disoriented, vulnerable and lost, as the fog erased my sense of distance. It was a powerful reminder of how seemingly mundane elements, like fog or light, can be reimagined to create extraordinary experiences. These installations reinforced an important insight for me: people are central to any creative experience. Without someone to engage with these installations, they would lose their meaning. This principle translates directly to creative work, where people’s interactions bring projects to life and make them meaningful.
Describe a recent moment at The Agency that made you feel especially proud or moved.
Since the beginning of this year, I have been co-facilitating online Alumni workshops with Andrew and the Steering Group. These sessions explored topics from event planning to showcasing Agency projects, and there’s more to come (stay tuned!).
I have been polishing my workshop facilitation skills since then. Upon joining an event called Gather Round by 64 Million Artists, I developed a workshop idea called ‘What Threads Us Together.’ At this year’s National Gathering, I delivered the workshop to over 30 Agents from 6 UK locations. It was magical to meet the Agents in person, share a moment of creativity and connect through a simple prompt:
‘Without using any yarn, make a string long enough for everyone in the room to hold.’
Agents were puzzled initially, but they soon began crafting and joining a string with the materials available: newspaper, hairbands, wooden sticks... They were then asked to carry the string to a different room without breaking it. Of course, some came apart or disconnected. It’s okay to fall out of sync sometimes. We can find ways to reconnect. This workshop reminded me of the collective creativity and resilience we hold when we come together.
Do you have a motto or phrase that guides you in your work or life?
“When in doubt, focus on the moment right now.”
Growing up, I often felt uncertain about my next steps - questions like what to study or what career to pursue always concerned me. I was afraid of the unknown, but I soon realised that the uncertainty also meant endless possibilities waiting to be explored. Every step made built the foundation for where and who I am now. The key is to focus on doing what matters to me at the very moment, rather than worrying about the future. Embrace each opportunity as it comes, and you will naturally carve out a path that feels both meaningful and fulfilling.
Finally, if there were a movie about your life, what genre would it be?
If there was a movie about my life, it would be a documentary-style film about a journey across different countries to explore local cuisines and learn about their cultures. After experiencing local culture by trying out different dishes, the protagonist would create a new dish that blends her own experiences with the flavours of the place she visited.
I chose culinary culture as the central theme because I love learning about different cultures, talking to people and most important of all – I love eating and cooking! Cooking is a creative and playful process to me, as well as a chance to experiment and have fun. I especially enjoy making fusion food, like charred cabbages with Chinese chilli and yoghurt sauce; mushroom soy sauce and butter pasta and more quirky recipes to come!
Enjoyed this read?
This was the fifth article in the second series of ‘Faces of Change’ keep an eye out for more very soon!Click here to see the full location teams and a snapshot of past agents from each city The Agency Programme has taken place in.