Open City Education is growing!
Last term we reached 1000 primary school learners across London with our Architecture in Schools programme. We paired design practices with a single school and these design professionals inspired young city-makers with stories of their city, and its heritage and opportunities as well as giving tips on model-making and planning. This year we would like to reach even more schools, so if you are a teacher or design professional please contact sarah@open-city.org.uk
Accelerate is also expanding. From this autumn, we will have hubs across three university sites in London and offer a programme for up to 90 young Londoners. This will make Accelerate London’s largest programme for sixth formers from groups under-represented in the Built Environment sector. The year-long course offers skills development workshops, mentoring with practice professionals across the industry and the chance to explore sites, issues and ideas relevant today. In addition, these 16-18 year olds can gain their Gold Arts Award and a huge amount of individual advice and help with finding the right next steps and preparing their application and portfolio. If you are interested in getting involved with the programme either as a student or as a professional mentor or guest speaker, please email siraaj@open-city.org.uk
Last but by no means least, we also have a wide range of bespoke and pilot projects on the go. We are lucky to work with the John Lyons Charitable Trust in SEND schools in Brent, Harrow and Westminster and with A New Direction and Arts Mark to design a new KS3 programme for Riverside in Haringey. Across Barking and Dagenham and Newham, we have been really enjoying working with Year 10 and 11 students to explore all things architectural and routes into and across the whole Built Environment sector. We are busy preparing Family Hubs for the Open House Festival as well as a Summer School with the John Soane Museum and their fascinating new show, Space Popular. If you are interested in inspiring, innovative and inclusive learning programmes which actively encourage both progression and a sense of belonging, please get in touch with sarah@open-city.org.uk
