A special academy with famous guest celebrity tutors opens its doors at Hackney’s Picturehouse today.

The inspirational three-week educational programme for young people is being held in the run-up to BBC Radio One’s spectacular Hackney Weekend two-day pop festival featuring headline acts, Rihanna and Jay-Z on Hackney Marshes on June 23 and 24.

From June 1 until June 22 a host of leading names from the worlds of music, business, film, radio. fashion, comedy, gaming and softftware and journalism will take part, in the station’s biggest ever programme of social action and outreach.

It will offer up to 10,000 young people across Hackney the chance to gain skills and experience and to be inspired ny experts in their fields

It will include the likes of singers Leona Lewis, Plan B, actor Ashley Walters, rapper Dizzee Rascal, international lingerie entrepreneur, Michelle Mone and former BBC newsreader, Moira Stewart, who will share their experiences of how they made it in a range of master classes and question and answer sessions at the cinema in Mare Street.

The Hackney Gazette is lending its support to the Academy project by running a masterclass in journalism.

Editor Malcolm Starbrook will be runnning a series of workshops with some of the teenagers on the journalism course looking at what makes a good story and what makes a good page design.

Malcolm said: “The aim is to provide enough information to the groups to enable them to write reports on what they, and others, have done at the academy; to take photographs and then to sit down and design a double page spread to appear in the following week’s Gazette.”

Film production company, Mouth That Roars, which is based in Waterson Street, Shoreditch is running film workshops where young people could see their movies screened during the Hackney Weekender.

“What an amazing opportunity for the young people to have this once in a lifetime opportunity,” said Denise Rose who is going to run the workshop.

Meanwhile, fashion company, You Work It, is running the fashion strand, where six successful T-shirts designed during the course will be picked to be sold at the Hackney Weekend.

“This is a great way to get a hands-on introduction into designing but also to see if it can be made commercially viable,” said Sara El Dabi from the company based in Hackney Road, Haggerston.

“A lot of young people who live and go to school in the area feel completely distant from the creative community here, so the workshops are a great way to bridge that gap.”

The Academy is aimed at 16 to 24-year-olds, and under 16s must be accompanied.

The timetable has now been published and is available to view on http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01d77xq/features/academy-audiences

Anyone who wants to participate should email takeiton@bbc.co.uk

Programme of Q&A sessions

Friday June 1, 11am

Leona Lewis and Labrinth answer your questions. Hosted by Trevor Nelson.

Saturday June 2, 1pm

Emmanuel Frimpong from Arsenal and players from London Warriors answer your questions. Hosted by Vernon Kaye and Charlie Sloth.

Monday June 4, 1pm

Find out more about careers in journalism with guests from The Guardian, The Voice, Pride and BBC’s very own Moira Stewart.

Tuesday June 5, 1pm

Find out more about careers in film and television with movie block buster special effects expert Eugenie von Tunzelmann, Hollywood director Nelson Spyk

Tuesday June 5, 4.30pm

Sharmadean Reid (Wah Nails), Michelle Mone (Ultimo) and Levi Roots (Reggae Reggae sauce) answer your questions. A must for any budding entrepreneur. Hosted by Twin B.

Wednesday June 6, 1pm

Find out more about starting your own business, with guests from the NTS Radio and Tatty Devine whose work have been featured on X-Factor and Summly.com.

Wednesday June 6, 4.30pm

Dizzee Rascal and his manager answer your questions.

Thursday June 7, 1pm

Find out more about careers in radio with Radio 1 presenter Huw Stephens and producers from Radio 1 and 1Xtra.

Friday June 8, 1pm

Find out more about careers in film and television, with guests from EastEnders, the BBC and independent film makers.

Friday June 8, 2pm

Watch a screening of Fast Girls and then meet the cast, including Noel Clarke, Lenora Crichlow, Lashana Lynch, Dominique Tipper and director Regan Hall. Hosted by Trevor Nelson.