Collabortive design team

Explore imaginative ideas for the public realm via a series of community workshops

CLIENT: HS2

CATEGORY: Arts and Culture

PROJECT TYPE: Creative community workshops

LOCATION: Birmingham, UK

MATERIALS: Mixed materials

PHOTOGRAPHER: Hayley Salter

APPROACH:

We partnered with Craftspace to run a series of creative workshops at the Heart of Birmingham Vocational College. Initiated by HS2 the company building the UK’s new high-speed rail line and new depot at Washwood Heath.

The ‘Washwood Heath Creates’ programme enabled College learners to form a design team and develop imaginative ideas for the planned public space around the Washwood Heath Depot, HS2’s national maintenance facility, which will be built near the College.

During workshops and field trips the learners visited the HS2 construction site and used their research to generate ideas that connect Washwood Heath Depot with the local community. The series of workshops culminated in a sharing event and open day for carers, staff and the local community.

The project is part of HS2's arts and culture programme, which explores ways to incorporate creative practice into the development of the railway and works closely with creative practitioners and arts organisations to build relationships with communities, reflecting and enhancing their skills and aspirations.

HBVC is an independent specialist college for learners aged between 16 and 25 with special educational needs and/or autism.