Created in partnership with Camden Highline (a charity proposing to transform the disused railway between Camden Town and Kings Cross in London into a new park) this ongoing initiative is National Lottery Heritage Funded. The core aim is to immerse young people from State Schools near to the Camden Highline in exploratory learning, enhancing their awareness and appreciation of the heritage of their local area and enabling them to shape Camden’s future built-environment.

Two pilot co-create workshops with 13-14 year olds from Regent High School enabled the development of the workshop programme, utilising memory mapping, a walking tour and experimental collage to test workshop content and formats.

We have consequently created a day long workshop framework. Bespoke tools and magnetic games introduce and explore Camden Town’s industrial heritage and spark students to consider their own interpretation of heritage. Students explore Camden on an interactive walking tour guided by a heritage trail, co-created with local illustrator Hannah Robinson. This encourages students to investigate nearby architecture and infrastructure, empowering them to be curious and record their findings. Students create their own response in ‘9 bit art’ form, telling the story of Camden’s part with the ambition that this forms a piece of collective artwork displayed on or close to the future Camden Highline.

The workshops are hosted at Camden Collective by Camden Highline and Urban Learners with architects, designers and volunteering professionals, incorporating local to international heritage perspectives and linking to multiple curriculum targets.

Future online resources from the programme will be available for teachers and families – watch this space or check out the Tracking the Heritage website!