THE Turning Point festival – organised by and designed for under 25s – takes place at the legendary Roundhouse in Camden, London, from this weekend with help from a Bournemouth student.

Joe Barnes, 22, from Parkstone has been heavily involved in organising the event and is the latest student from the Arts Institute to make his mark on the UK entertainment scene.

“As part of my final year I ran a music project called Radar 2009 in Guildford and the organisers of Turning Point saw it and liked it so they invited me to help organise the festival,” says Joe.

He was involved in arranging many of the festival’s impressive line-up, which includes Radio 1 DJs Zane Lowe and Kissy Sell Out, as well as rappers Tinchy Stryder, Kano and Dan le Sac vs Scroobius Pip.

“I have been involved in the festival right from the ideas stage, including booking the bands and then right through to the marketing.”

Joe has travelled to London every Friday for the last two months, with the help of his course leader, to continue his involvement in co-ordinating the festival.

“As part of my final year my course leader organised for my travel expenses to be paid so I could keep travelling to London each week. Our core lecturing team are great, they all have bags of experience in organising events and understand how important it is for us to get out there and be involved with projects.”

“The first day of the Turning Point festival is also my last day at Uni so that’ll be a great way to finish off three great years.”

Joe has already been asked to get involved with several local projects once he graduates and he intends to stay in the Bournemouth area.