Albright’s Declaration for the Future

Shaped by young people with Dale Hipkiss, Albright’s Declaration for the Future brings together ideas around how the young people feel about their environment, and changes they want to see.

Dale Hipkiss worked with young people (aged between 11 and 16 years), from Albright Education Centre in Tipton, on a long-term project, that used art to explore and address ideas around social and environmental justice, and make space for young people to have their voice heard in this important conversation. Creative workshops included making calls to action, poster-making, building an outdoor structure and writing an Albright manifesto.

Using Bob and Roberta Smith as a source of inspiration, Dale was keen to emphasise the significance of words and statements and how these can be used to address climate issues. Led by the students, each workshop was based on their ideas and thoughts on this topic, to Alongside Dale, Aisha from the Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust facilitated two workshops using collage and creative activities to get students to think about the wildlife and environment around them.

Throughout the project, students engaged in workshops centered on climate change and the environment, drawing inspiration from Bob and Roberta Smith’s manifesto and sign writing. Through a range of different creative approaches, the students voiced their concerns and shared their ideas for shaping a brighter future; Dale encouraged the students to discuss how – as a collective – we can share the importance for caring for our community and our environment, culminating in the form of an outdoor seating structure.
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Dale’s practice encompasses research around climate breakdown and agriculture and he is also one half of artist-duo, Hipkiss & Graney; their practice explores ideas around collectivity, community and counter-movements through co-creation, socially engaged workshops, large-scale interactive installations and performances. Here are some of the questions and prompts Dale used to inform the work that was co-created with the students:

What relationship do you have currently with the outside world?

Do you visit parks? Play football? Visit an allotment? Go walking? Fishing?

What outside spaces do you visit?

What do you see as the current problems with your immediate local outside spaces?

Do you have access to a garden?

On Friday 4 October, we celebrated our collaboration with artist Dale Hipkiss and the incredible students and staff at Albright Education, with an unveiling of the seating structure, sharing cake, stories and experiences. The seating is made up of wood panels designed and hand-painted by the students (with paint being made by the students during the workshops), that feature manifesto statements and calls to action, envisioning the future they want for society.

The new seating area at Albright not only provides a practical communal space but also reflects the vibrant, hopeful visions of Albright’s students and staff. Although centred on individual concerns and issues relating to the environment, the messages of hope, resilience and positivity bring a sense of hope and togetherness relevant to us all.

This project has been generously funded by The Energy Saving Trust.