Bringing It Together

The final workshop was a celebration of creativity, teamwork, and community spirit, marking the of inspiring for the young participants.

Facilitator Lizzie Clough orchestrated the day with activities designed to consolidate the skills and experiences gained in previous sessions. The workshop began with calming listening exercise, inviting participants to close their eyes and immerse themselves the ambient sounds of their environment. This mindful start set reflective, preparing them for the day’s activities.

The session continued with an informal outdoor exploration around Barrow Park, where participants could further connect with their surroundings. Returning, the atmosphere was strikingly relaxed and engaging. Participants given the autonomy to select and shift seamlessly focused tasks and social interactions.

Next, informal exchanges and collaborative decisions about creative projects were at the centre stage, emphasising the peer relationships that developed over the series. Participants openly shared ideas and techniques, in conversations that ranged from creative processes to spontaneous, fun, and dynamic interplay of creativity and dialogue.

The beanbag area remained a space for informal rest and interactions, showcasing the flexible, participant nature of the workshop. This adaptability allowed individuals to engage at their own, shifting between creative or simply enjoying the relaxed company of newfound friends.

In the final act of workshop participants came together to collaboratively produce a short film that integrated map models with the lighting experiments from the previous sessions. This task required coordination, role assignment, collective-making, confidence, and community bonds which were cultivated throughout the programme.

The young participants transformed their understanding of space and community, but instilled confidence and a sense of agency. Through creativity and collaborative exploration, these workshops generated youth-led arty initiatives to reshape their understanding of place and to connect Barrow and Lancaster in meaningful ways through collaborative art.