Organisation
Project
Creative Futures (Textiles)
Year, type of grant
2022-23, Investing in Young Women
Grant awarded
£16,812 over 24 months
Summary
To support Creative Futures, a new project exploring aspects of craft and making through skills development, careers advice, and knowledge-sharing.
Two groups of young women from a local secondary school worked alongside four professional makers to design and create a diverse portfolio – making creative decisions, learning new skills, building networks, and exploring creativity beyond what is offered in mainstream education. Four mini-projects over the course of each academic year explored fashion design, pattern-cutting, jewellery design, silversmithing, millinery design and construction, textile design, dyeing, print, and embroidery. Participants were supported to attain a Bronze Arts Award, received careers guidance, had the opportunity to take place in the annual Hampshire Open Studios exhibition, and to become Associate Makers at the end of the programme.
Learning from the Creative Futures project inspired Making Space to launch Making a Start and Craft Pathways, additional interventions and support for young people facing challenges that might limit opportunities to launch a craft business.
Who, what, where
How this project supported Ragdoll Foundation aims
Projects funded through Investing in Young Women explored how arts and cultural organisations could support gifted young women from disadvantaged backgrounds to develop their talents and skills with a view to embarking on careers in the arts and creative media.
A high-quality, well focused proposal to widen young women’s horizons and raise ambitions. The two-year model demonstrated progression and mentoring through the opportunity to become an Associate Maker. Organisational learning allowed Making Space to understand what support was required for meaningful work with young people, and fed into the development of subsequent projects.
