Hunter J. O'Neil

A multi-disciplinary composer, creative producer, writer, and cooperative ecosystem architect completing a BA(Hons) in Music Production, Business and Performance at the University of Westminster, holding an FCM in Music Composition from Trinity Laban Conservatoire. A dedicated artist and climate activist, he is recognized as a Creative Agent of Climate Change and Artist Resident with In Place of War's EarthSonic initiative. His work as artist Hunterjay crafts sweeping, open-air chamber folk—pairing cathartic melody, tactile strings, and outdoor acoustic capture with visceral lyricism that confronts climate breakdown and champions working-class solidarity. As founder of Common Folk Media, his background spans cross-disciplinary governance, VAPA department leadership, and trauma-informed design for neurodiverse communities. Hunter accepted the inaugural Cugoano Changemakers Fellowship to empower and scale this work—leveraging his existing non-extractive infrastructure to architect an alternative creative industry that unites artists of any discipline, audiences of any income, and offers a living creative commons at the intersection of climate action, artist liberation, and social impact.