Inspiring the next generation of makers

Artist residency and collaborative community workshops

CLIENT: Midlands Art Centre

CATEGORY: Arts and Culture

PROJECT TYPE: Artist residency and community workshops

LOCATION: Birmingham, UK

MATERIALS: Repurposed materials

PHOTOGRAPHER: Dual Works

APPROACH:

‘Futuremakers’ was a summer-long festival which aimed to inspire the designers and makers of the future through acts of playing, making and building. Its participatory programme included an exhibition and artist residency hosted by Midlands Art Centre, Birmingham and conceived by Alessandro Columbano.

As resident makers, we worked in a purpose-built open studio in the arena gallery and collaborated with the public and local groups. The project aimed to encourage participants to play, make, and build pavilions in Cannon Hill Park.  We helped support the creation and construction of pavilions using the architecture of the MAC as a starting point.

An accompanying exhibition displayed artworks and projects on the theme of play, make, and build, and included historical and contemporary examples where play forms an integral part of a creative act or outcome, alongside an ongoing curated display of the maker's programme.