During August 2018, 18 Islington young people spent an intensive three weeks developing their art practice and working towards Arts Award during our Institute of Anything Summer School.

Hosted by Central St Martin’s and delivered in partnership with their Insights team, the summer school provided the group with a taste of art school.

“It has shown me the opportunities that art can offer you in life,” Summer School participant

The cohort worked with artists Bettina Fung, Ali Eisa, Sophia Thakur, Natalie Keymist, Helen Ingham and curator Helen Nisbet to experience a broad set of contemporary arts practices including photography, printmaking, experimental mark making and art as a social experiment.

They also visited the Lee Bul show at Hayward Gallery and heard about arts pathways at CSM and the University of Arts London.

The young people then built on these skills to each develop a personal project and stage two group exhibitions – ‘A Question of Identity’ and ‘A Colourful Portrait’.

Artwork: Jasper Maisey, Photograph: Rob Harris

“I learnt to think bigger when I create, and to think about my art in a very different way,” Summer School participant

Artworks included a zine and installation which celebrates afro hair, a filmed performance poem about love, a photography collage about hope, a mixed-media installation encouraging us to embrace our culture, a series of collaged portraits, and an animation which declares that we are all too similar.

“I enjoyed being given a space to express my creativity in different ways the most,” Summer School participant 

Artwork: Skye Weston, Photograph: Rob Harris

We’re delighted to announce that 12 young people attained Silver Arts Award, while three gained Bronze. Congratulations to Amaya, Beatrice, Bill, Brandon, Camilo, Courtney, Daniel, Dominik, Elisabeth, Jasper, Joab, Jordan, Khadijah, Lenny and Yaz for their Arts Award success! And well done to Skye, Shannon and Sofia for taking part.

The project was supported by artists Paul Crook, Molly Foulkes and Jared Weightman, and CSM’s fantastic outreach staff and student ambassadors – Shep Manyika, Dominic Akhavan-Moossavi, Stan Buglass and Thai.

“I think a whole new world opened up to them both.  We felt very privileged that they could attend,” Parent

The Institute of Anything Summer School is generously supported by Central St Martin’s, Islington SummerVersity & Launchpad, Arts Award Access fund and the Hilden Trust.