- We engage with architects, engineers and professionals
- architectural tours and trails
- Young (Co) Creators supporting our work
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ARTISTS AND CREATIVES
Our art-architecture based learning programmes include artists, designers and aspirational creative professionals. ● Eva Rothschild ●
- Creating unique heritage and community experiences
- Rewarding and engaging
- Engaging with art and architecture
- MUSEUM OF BRUTALIST ARCHITECTURE campaign trail
- we develop family and community exploration trails
- We encourage participation
- Venetia and Andy designing with students
- Briefing at the Royal Albert hall with Lionheart
- connecting young people with artists and professionals
- Learning new skills
- We create tools for experimentation and interpretation
- (Co) Creation of local infrastructure and placemaking projects
- We inspire young people and children
- we work with communities and schools making creativity thrive
- free downloadable activity resources
- We encourage experimentation
ABOUT
Urban Learners is an award winning education and design agency dedicated to improving creative, heritage and cultural opportunities for under-represented people and communities.
WHY
Our mission is to enhance young people and community’s access, skills and knowledge of architecture and creativity, in order to advocate for a better, representative built environment.
HOW WE WORK
Our process is grounded in the ambition to positively engage with children, young people, youth and adults from all backgrounds.
WHO WE ARE
We are a female founded not-for-profit education and design agency with art, architecture and education expertise.
WHAT WE DO
We ‘(Co)Create’ bespoke learning and outreach programmes, ‘Assemble’ inclusive practices with aspiring people and ‘Curate’ knowledge and creativity in formats tailored to the audience and context.
OUR SERVICES
We’ve been developing and delivering bespoke education programmes for organisations since our inception in 2008. These have delivered excellent outcomes and opportunities for children and young people.
Contact Us should you wish to have a discussion about your programme or ideas around bespoke education programmes.
Examples of our bespoke education programmes: Performance Architecture Design | Sculpture in the City | Reimagining The Camden Highline
Many of our programmes provide opportunities for Children and Young People (CYP) to meet and be inspired by professionals within the creativity and built environment sector. It is often challenging for CYP to gain knowledge and access to these organisations and inspiring people, and Urban Learners ensure that these opportunities exist by direct participation on their programmes, through volunteering opportunities and by curating and assembling professional organisations to work alongside, inspire, and mentor the CYP on our programmes.
If you would like to volunteer, become a mentor and support young people please register your interest here: Volunteering Opportunities
Organisations that have connected with Urban Learners programmes include: The Leadenhall Building, CC Land, The Gherkin, Bloomberg, Brookfield Properties, Hiscox, Nuveen, Aviva, Leadenhall Market, 22 Bishopsgate, 70 St Mary Axe, 8 Bishopsgate, AON, MAKE Architects, RSHP, Fosters + Partners, SOM, PLP Architecture, Eva Rothschild, Sheppard Robson, Hawarth Tompkins, Sarah Wigglesworth Architects, Central St Martin (CSM), Ravensbourne University, The Bartlett School of Architecture, Here East, RIBApix, Twentieth Century Society, Historic England, The Concrete Centre, The Architecture Foundation, Royal College of Art, The Dulwich Picture Gallery, The Museum of Architecture, Assael Architects, Eric Parry Architects, HTA LLP, Ryder Architects, Karakusevic Carson, Fletcher Priest Architects, AHMM, Open City, Danielle Rhoda, Hannah Robinson. LB Camden, City of London, Grimshaw Foundation, Lacuna, British Land, Acland Burghley School, Home Grown Plus
We represent Children and Young People (CYP) who anticipate change to their homes and neighbourhoods. work with CYP in communities and alongside organisations, developers, architects and designers for positive change. We empower CYP with the skills and awareness, through participatory design, to provide them agency to shape and contribute to the shaping of their place.
Whether a new housing development, a community space, community playground, or community heritage place, we (co)-create practical solutions so that those who are implementing the change can be sure to include the voices of |CYP in their decision making.
If you are a developer or council effecting change that impacts CYP, please contact us for a discussion about how Urban Learners can support you with outreach to your CYP community.
We:
+ Identify issues and opportunities
+ Seek positive changes led by the community
+ Promote positive and sustainable regeneration
+ Rethink placemaking strategies
+ Explore the CULTURE and IDENTITY of a neighbourhood and its CHILDREN and YOUNG PEOPLE
Read More Here
Our creative programmes for children and young people can be one-off or long term and are focussed on bridging communities with organisations. If you are seeking an organisation to support with inclusive Social Value aspirations and outreach programmes, then feel free to contact Urban Learners for a discussion.
We work with you, the professional design team and the real estate developer to identify local aspirations. We navigate the development process to result in more meaningful places, cultural and identity led strategies for regeneration projects.
Children and Young People’s VOICES matter, we LISTEN to all members of the community, we translate complex developers proposals, we explain plans and drawings and help the community to input into the project
If you are a developer or council effecting change that impacts CYP, please contact us for a discussion about how Urban Learners can support you with outreach to your CYP community.
We:
+ Undertake grass roots discussions, interactive engagement
+ Create a story board of ideas and map activities and usage
+ Review placemaking and phasing plans
+ Develop a CURATION strategy with the community
+ Facilitate design and VISIONING workshops
+ Architectural and Design ADVOCACY
+ Develop ideas for cultural and communities and how spaces can be used
+ Work with communities to build trust
+ Work with all members of the community, be relevant to them
+ Translate outcomes to development partners and their professional design teams
Read More Here
We are often brought in at the beginning of the conversation and our input helps to catalyse ideas into real programmes, If you are in the early stages of thinking about a creative heritage or cultural strategy for your organisation or community, do contact us.
For example our involvement on the Camden High Line pilot project saw research and co-design with local children in the borough of Camden, culminating in a photographic exhibition of their ideas which in turn was used for attaining funding and council support for what is now the Camden High Line project. Read More about the project or Visit the Site
Another example is the formation of the Museum of Brutalist Architecture (MoBA) which Urban Learners created to support Acland Burghley School with their vision for the restoration of their brutalist school assembly hall. Urban Learners not only conceived the ideas but partnered and were successful for lottery funding which has attracted support of over £2m to the project. Read More about the project or Visit the Site
Much of our research work culminates the design and production of activity based resources which can be accessed, for FREE, from our website. CLICK HERE to access a variety of these from collage activities to paper and digital trails, to audio tours.
If you have an idea for creating a research study or a resource for children and young people or for families to teachers, educators and for anyone interested in learning, then contact us HERE.