Young City Makers

Young City Makers is a free creative learning programme, connecting schools with architects, engineers, planners, and designers to explore how cities are shaped. Planting the seeds for more inclusive, imaginative, and community-led cities, we empower young people to increase their civic awareness.

Open City specifically works with schools that have a high level of pupil premium funding, in order to reach young people who might not otherwise have access to creative opportunities.

Thanks to the generous support of our sponsors, Young City Makers will run in Birmingham and London in 2026.

To get involved - as a school or volunteer - please contact us at: education@open-city.org.uk

Programme Events

  • Youth Engagement Training

  • In-School creative workshops

  • Inspiring field trip

  • Collective award ceremony

  • Shared teacher CPD event

For Students

Designed for KS2 students (ages 8-11), the programme builds creativity, confidence, and collaboration through hands-on design challenges. Long-term, it aims to foster a sense of belonging, creating meaningful opportunities for underserved groups

For Schools

The programme offers a unique opportunity to enrich classroom learning through hands-on, cross-curricular experiences - linking directly to art and design, geography, and citizenship. The programme is designed to be easy to host and highly rewarding for both students and staff.

2024-2025 Highlights

2,334

Students

39

Schools

148

Professionals

25,674

Engagement hours

227

Events

5

Regions

For Professionals

For participating professionals, Young City Makers offers a chance to become an active role model, using the city as a classroom. They gain first-hand experience educating young people, developing their own consultation skills on live projects.

For Practices

Design practices join an empowering community of organisations committed to increasing equity across the sector. By connecting with local schools, young people and the wider community, they champion inclusion and inspire the next generation of designers.