Jump
Photographer, activist, educator and filmmaker Kirsty Mackay has been working with our Creative Hub group, teaching them point-and-shoot film cameras to capture the world from their perspective.
The young people’s photographs are in our main studio at the moment and Kirsty will be exhibiting these images as part of a larger body of work about the cost of living crisis.
Last month we had the opportunity to run two weeks of work experience with our funders Bristol City Council Strategic Partnership. This partnership of ARUP, Arcadis and Mott MacDonald, aids the delivery of new infrastructure, homes and regeneration across the city of Bristol.
We are very lucky to have such an engaged partnership with our funders, who opened their doors to the young people and worked with them through live briefs in engineering, project managing, finance and more.
During the visit to Mott MacDonald young people helped design new developments for a secondary school in Bristol. Each team were assigned a role for example: project manager, designer, finance officer and worked on the brief.
At Arcadis, young people learnt about the developments taking place in Castle Park and helped brainstorm new developments for the project.
Young people worked with ARUP to assess upcoming flood risks to the city and design flood defences around Bristol’s harbour, working within the real budget of the live project, considering social value, budget and environmental issues.
Our work wasn’t done with those visits as throughout the week young people also went on a photography expedition around the harbour, made mixed media projects at KWMC and took part in digital fabrication learning at a Maker City Making days at The Factory.
We had the pleasure of running Maker City with the year 6’s at Oasis Academy Connaught this school term.
Maker City is a STEAM (science, tech, engineering, arts and maths) programme aimed at inspiring young people to design and create products using state-of-the-art technology such as laser cutters, 3D printers and sticker machines. We focus on collaboration, creative problem solving and social action to work together to design something that would be useful for ourselves and our community!
It is amazing for us to be able to meet young people in their school environment and offer a different approach to education; broaden their horizons and show them what is available in their local area and how they can be involved.
For the school sessions, we brought iMacs, drawing tablets, and robots to work with. At the end of the term, we bought the young people to KWMC The Factory where they could see their work being made using our other equipment, have a tour of the space, and get stuck in with our hands-on engineering activities.
This term we have run three Sound Wave taster sessions at Parsons Street Primary School with two year 6 classes. We were able to bring in percussive instruments and laptops for the young people to use in the sessions. In our first session, we kicked things off by playing a conducting game where everyone in the class would have a piece of percussion and one young person would come to the front to conduct the room. They could affect when people played and how loud or quiet, they played their instrument. The enthusiasm from the year 6 classes was great to see and we had multiple volunteers all wanting to have a go at conducting.
We introduced the young people to composing and creating their own music using loops on Garageband. In a short period of time, the young people showed their amazing creativity and quickly took to building their own songs with loops and were really excited to show the rest of the class what they had been working on in the session.
Our Sound Wave taster school sessions have also included young people creating their own podcasts! In these sessions, the young people worked in groups to come up with a theme for their podcast, something that they are passionate about or want to talk about. Then after some planning, and writing down a few key points they moved on to recording their podcast on software such as Garageband or Sound Trap. They also looked at creating some theme music or a jingle for their podcast which could be from loops or recording an instrument. Again, we saw amazing creativity from the year 6 classes at Parsons Street and a willingness to share their work with us which we always love to see at the end of sessions.
If you are interested in having any of our sessions at your school, please contact jump@kwmc.org.uk.
If you are interested in signing up for any of our after-school sessions or have any questions, please follow this link or email jumpstudios@kwmc.org.uk.
On Wednesday the 9th of November, WECIL came to Knowle West Media Centre for the first of two sessions focusing on Social Action and Social Media. The aim of the first session was to introduce the cohort to the space and dive into the world of Social Action; exploring the group’s passions and concerns about their local area and society while learning about previous strategies used to promote positive change. Through interactive discussions and activities, the group narrowed down their focus and decided on a topic that they would each like to research and plan a way to start turning their social concerns into actions.
On the 23rd of November, WECIL returned to KWMC to continue with the second part of their workshop. This time they were looking at how they could use social media to promote the social action plans they wanted to communicate. The group learned new information regarding social media platforms and audiences whilst picking up skills such as designing social assets on Canva.
From this point, their social media posts were starting to form. With text and assets at the ready, the group was able to post what they had created readying them for creating content and posting outside of the workshop.
We had a blast running this workshop for WECIL and we hope with all they have gained, they can spread those all-important messages far and wide!
This year we launched our Maker City Industry Work Experience programme. We worked with 16 local young people and partnered with engineering businesses: Arup, Mott McDonald and Arcadis to focus on making a change in our city!
We started the week at KWMC, getting to know each other and setting out what to expect for the week ahead.
In the afternoon, we held taster sessions in photography, music and content creation – ran by our team here at KWMC. These taster sessions focused on building their creativity and confidence by using tech to capture and tell stories through different platforms. We were able to share insight into how we use arts, tech and digital media in our day-to-day jobs here at KWMC!
After the first day, the participants felt that they had gained confidence in their creative skills and their ability in using them in the workplace. They also talked about how they had a better understanding of the work and change that KWMC aims to make and were excited to go into the city and put their skills to the test!
On Day 2 we visited Arup, the young people were amazed by their beautiful office, which even had a big tree inside! They spent the morning working with the mentors from Arup to undergo a budgeting and prototyping activity. Using little resources, the groups worked together to design a new cutting edge bridge for Bristol.
The mentors explained that their jobs rely on thinking outside the box when designing landmarks that already exist and that factoring in material costs is super important. The young people got a lot out of this activity, they felt they had a good amount of time to think through their ideas and having a budget really added another dynamic which gave them further understanding. The afternoon was spent hearing from different members of the team about what their day-to-day lives at Arup look like, they shared some exciting new projects with the group and listened to inspiring talks about how to get into the industry.
On Day 3 we visited Mott McDonald, this work experience was based around boat building. The mentors led a challenging task where the participants worked in pairs to create motor boats that could sail in a paddling pool! It was lots of fun but also very insightful and their prototyping and engineering skills were put to the test. The group also got to meet a wide range of staff from Motts. In the afternoon, there was a round-robin where the staff, all the way up to the CEO, shared one exciting project they had worked on. The participants had loads of brilliant questions and left feeling excited for the next trip to Arcadis!
Day 4 was all about the site visit! Arcadis is working on developments at Temple Meads Train Station and the participants got to go out to the site and visualise their ideas for designing a state-of-the-art train station! Their ideas included, a farmers market, a stream train restaurant, a rooftop bar with a rooftop garden and a local gift shop where artists can sell their products to people passing by.
Once they had visualised the space, they got all their ideas down on paper and presented them back to the staff at Arcadis, who were very impressed with the level of detail and creativity!
We loved having the young people take part in our week long Maker City Industry Programme, where not only did they get a taste of working life at five different venues across the city, they were able to feed their ideas and opinions into real life projects happening here in Bristol!
Maker City Industry Programme inspires young people to get creative with their STEAM skills and put them into action! We will also have spaces on our regular Maker City Industry Programme from January 2023 on Tuesday evenings at KWMC The Factory, you can register your interest now by filling out this form and selecting Maker City – you will be added to the waiting list and offered a place nearer the time!
Work experience at KWMC is a life-changing opportunity for young people to immerse themselves in a professional creative industry and broaden their horizons to an imaginative world full of possibilities. At KWMC, we encourage young people to learn in a self-led, trusting environment. Rather than showing young people how to perform specific chores, we encourage young people to express themselves, learn new creative skills and thrive in areas in which they feel passionate.
To start the week, the young people completed a manual-of-me sheet. This is a self-exploration tool which we use at KWMC for people to think about their interests, their learning and working styles and how they like to communicate with a wider team. We shared our manuals with each other to help build a trusting and productive working environment.
Recruitment for our programmes is a huge part of the work we do here at Knowle West Media Centre so the cohort spent one day out in the local community, leafletting for our Jump Studio’s Summer Program. The team really enjoyed this task and portrayed a lot of confidence and care while learning about Jump Studios and sharing this with the wider community.
The photography workshop allowed young people to learn the basic theories behind photography as well as take part in a practical challenge where they used DSLR cameras and practised directing and capturing to create a photography collection used to advertise products.
The film workshop allowed young people to learn about the different job roles available in the film industry. The young people started building production companies in small groups, learning how to script write, and storyboard short film scenes as well as using graphic design skills to design and create logos.
We ran tutorials on how to design using Wacoms, Inkscape, Canva, Sketchbook and other general Mac software. These skills were used throughout the week and the cohort had the opportunity to create products using KWMC’s laser cutter, vinyl cutter and heat press, focusing on Social Action and design which helps the wider community.
Throughout the week the cohort was able to start their Bronze Arts Awards. This meant that while gathering new skills and exploring new creative practices they were also able to work on their own personal projects and gain a qualification.
We will be running Work Experience again next year in July, register your interest for Work Experience 2023 here!
Jump Studios star-jumped into August with an action-packed Maker City week at KWMC The Factory. The programme’s first day began with exciting tasters of the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths) world we were about to explore.
The young people were given a tour of the building and shown live demos of the diverse technology we have available at The Factory. Excited by the laser cutter and the vinyl cutter; the young people tried their hand at making their own personalised stickers and wooden name badges, learning how to use Inkscape and transfer files onto the machines. They even learnt how to drive Sphero robots and created their own 3D mazes to race them around.
As well as tasters of the technology, Maker City Day 1 delved into Social Action; practising interactive activities to ignite conversations around interests and passions within their community. This led us to our first ‘Build Your Bristol’ challenge where the young people were given a budget for simple materials to design and engineer a prototype of something that Bristol would benefit from as a city.
Day 2 of Maker City continued with the fight for Social Action as we went out as a group into the local community and started highlighting things that we noticed. The young people were aware of the positive infrastructure around them and were equally aware of the things that were missing or that they would like to change. Passionate conversations arose about the environmental and social needs of the people and the area and how they could start making positive changes.
The group noticed social issues; large amounts of litter on the ground and overflowing bins, a lack of greenery and dull signposting. They discussed how these issues made some of them feel unsafe and unwelcome on Filwood Broadway. The young people started to think about the technology available at KWMC The Factory and how machines like the laser cutter or the vinyl cutter could be used to create bright colourful signs for the high street and how the CNC machine could help build more bins for the community.
When we got back to the Factory the young people started thinking about the Social Action Campaign they wanted to focus on throughout the project. They came up with snappy slogans and designed their own protest placards using digital drawings on their computers ready to be cut out on the laser cutter. Some of the slogans included; ‘This Is Not Freedom’, and ‘Protect Our Planet.’ The young people thought about products they might want to create to support their social action campaign and created prototypes of their designs.
One young person designed a pill-shaped magnet with their slogan on it to spread awareness about the current anti-abortion laws in America. Another young person wanted to focus on improving people’s lifestyles in Bristol by designing a free transport bus. One even designed an ocean-cleaning boat which gathered plastic from the top of the ocean as it moved.
The ideas were courageous and diverse, looking to help people and the environment in a variety of creative and innovative ways. Other STEAM tactile design activities were carried out on this day to help the young people develop their STEAM practices and influence their Social Action campaigns. The young people created personalised kaleidoscopes and embroidered their own tote bags to take home.
The third day of the programme is when we bought everything and everyone together. The young people processed their ideas from prototypes to their final products and created PowerPoints on Canva to explain their Social Action journey in a colourful and accessible way. Gathering all of their hard work together, the young people set up KWMC The Factory as an incredible exhibition space and invited friends and family to come along to enjoy their incredible creations.
We ran our Sound Wave summer programme in the second week of August at Knowle West Media Centre. These three days consisted of young people taking part in drumming circle workshops, jamming together and creating their music using a mix of instruments and music software.
Day 1 of the programme introduced the young people to different ways of creating music. We had workshops from our associate facilitators/musicians around lyric writing, using synthesizers and finding inspiration when writing a song. In one activity everyone shared a song that they really enjoy and connect with then gave a few reasons why. We found there was an eclectic range of songs and styles within the group and the young people were able to use it as a springboard to start creating and making their own music!
Day 2 started with some group games that included learning how using different sounds in your music can change the feeling of your song. The young people would hear a sound and have to walk to a spot if they thought it was a High end, Midrange or Low end sound. We then went into a group jam with young people trying out different instruments and taking turns to conduct the group. We saw great group dynamics with everyone taking part and giving it a go.
After everyone was warmed up the young people started creating their own songs using software (Soundtrap, Garageband or Logic) and instruments of their choice. We were then able to showcase the amazing work that was made. Parents and staff were invite to the main studio of KWMC, where the young people had their laptops and headphones ready to play the songs they had created. It was amazing to see the creativity that they all have.
If you are interested in signing up for any of our after-school sessions or have any questions, please follow this link or email jumpstudios@kwmc.org.uk
At Jump, we believe in looking after ourselves as well as looking after each other. The ‘5 steps of Mental Health and Wellbeing’ have helped guide the winter-spring term at Jump Studios. These 5 steps are: give, connect, keep learning, take notice and be active.
We know how important it is for young people to keep learning and exploring topics around mental health and wellbeing so we have been spreading awareness around the 5 steps and using each one to drive creativity and design throughout our sessions.
This term in Sound Wave, we have been exploring songwriting, inspiration and collaboration. We have seen some amazing work from the young people and we have really noticed their confidence grow throughout the term. We have a range of interests and tastes which has resulted in an amazing selection of great music. Some have taken to creating music on software such as Sound Trap, Garage Band and Logic Pro and some have used the range of instruments to jam with others and create songs for the first time.
Through these discussions about the ‘5 Steps of Mental Health and Wellbeing’, we were able to get some insights into the importance of having a safe creative space for them to come to each week. This has been demonstrated by the supportive atmosphere the young people have created, as well as the work they have created.
We have started running our Youth Council sessions with the new 2022 cohort. We understand how important it is that local young people get their voices heard and with the new Youth Council committee they are willing to use their voices to start making positive change!
We have been communicating with the wider Knowle West community and the young people have been working with re:CREATE Filwood, Play:Disrupt and the wider ‘KWMC‘ organisation to help drive change and make real-life community decisions.
The young people have demonstrated a lot of creativity throughout the term and have been willing to explore new technologies that they may have not used before. They have been trying out a range of different tech that includes VR, coding with Spheros even creating their own face filters using P5 coding. We have also seen some incredible 3D designs using Tinkercad where they have created their own gaming worlds. Along with this, they created their own characters for their gaming world, digitally drawing them using Sketchbook or Pixel art.
Creative Hub used the 5 steps to inspire their own personal creative projects.
While learning new creative tech skills the young people continued with the theme of ‘Keep Learning’ while they researched new topics that they felt curious about. They used this research to help guide their personal creative projects. Gathering new information through self-led research and channelling their new ideas and knowledge through different creative vices.
Some of the sessions focused on the idea of ‘Giving’ where we thought about the people we cared about and made them gifts using the sticker making machine. ‘Be Active’ was channelled through animation and the concept of movement as expression. Throughout all of our sessions, we make sure that the group starts with an active, tangible exercise to get everyone’s brains and bodies moving to help inspire their creative juices.
We successfully included all of our themes in the sessions and had a really positive response from the young people.
This term at Maker City we have been busy delivering a programme alongside the curriculum at ‘KnowleDGE‘ (a local school down the road from ‘KWMC‘). The students have tried their hand at designing laser cut and vinyl objects they have been fascinated with 3D design and have learnt some new 3D design skills using Tinkercad and Thingiverse. This proved useful when taking part in STEM-in-Action activities where they designed and built a bridge out of spaghetti! The young people also took part in creating Sphero mazes, and carefully engineered a parachute to protect their eggs in the famous Maker City Egg Drop!
Combining Maker City with assessments alongside the school curriculum has allowed the young people to express their creativity, learn lots of new STEAM skills and have the chance to talk about social issues that matter to them. It has enabled a different perspective on how you can combine STEAM, product design and creativity all whilst completing assessment criteria.
The participants have been taking part in live project work alongside mentors from ‘Arup’, ‘Arcadis‘ and ‘Mott Macdonald‘. The projects the young people got to work on were: Ensuring accessible transport for the “Youth Zones” project, prototyping houses for Better Lives at Home, and How Sustainability is considered in businesses when designing homes. Maker City Industry is a space for young people to gain real-world experience and insight into how some of the most influential construction organisations create change and make things happen in Bristol and Beyond!
We are readying up for the next term as we focus on the celebration of community, which is dear to our hearts!
If you want to find out more about how young people can get involved in any of our programmes, click ‘here‘ to find our registration form!
Over the course of 3 weeks, we had a plethora of workshops lined up. This included 2 days of ‘Young People Can Make’, 2 days of ‘Maker City’ and 3 days of ‘Sound Wave’. We had a jam-packed summer, full of fun here at Jump, and we are really grateful to everyone involved, from the young people to the Jump team!
Jump Studios, local young people, We Can Make, and Automated Architecture collaborated to create Young People Can Make. The young people learned vital design skills and had hands-on experience working with the construction blocks.
Those that participated in YPCM were given the ability to design and materialise whatever structural or architectural ideas they may have had. Houses, bridges, community centres, and anything else their creativity allows them to manifest.
If you want to see what happened during the days of Young People Can Make, click here. Check out our blog, which reflects the fun-filled time we had.
The Maker City Summer Programme welcomed a brand-new cohort of aspiring creatives and makers eager to learn how to create socially conscious products for causes that are important to young people! They developed STEAM(Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) skills, product design, and participated in digital fabrication masterclasses. The participants also mastered collaborative creative problem-solving tasks, such as the infamous egg drop challenge and building spaghetti bridges that could hold 1kg of sugar! By the end of the two days, new friendships had formed, new skills had been learned, and confidence had been built!
Maker City is where we design products about things we care about.
young creative
We are excited to restart the Maker City programme at KWMC The Factory in October. Please contact clara@kwmc.org.uk if you would like your young person to become part of the Maker City Movement.
Over the three days of ‘Sound Wave’ in the Summer Programme, young musicians’ musical creativity shone through. Our young musicians demonstrated their musical abilities in a variety of ways, including playing together, conducting the entire room, creating podcasts, and writing and performing their own songs.
The young people started off by building their first beats and exploring the beauty of loops using the FREE web-based DAW(Digital Audio Workstation) Soundtrap. We even saw some future podcasters shine through with podcasts that included facts about bunnies, inspirational quotes, and things they care about within their community and wider Bristol.
On Days 2 and 3, the emphasis was on the students working together to compose their own songs. Our two groups not only wrote the lyrics, melodies, and chord progressions to their songs, but also performed them in front of KWMC personnel, thanks to seminars on rhyming and song writing and performance advice from our music facilitators!
All in all, it was an amazing experience to see such an array of musical talent come through in such a short amount of time.
Not only did we learn about music but we made new friends!
Young musician
To learn more about how you can get involved with Sound Wave in the new term, contact Mike at mike@kwmc.org.uk.
We are delighted to say this summer break has been amazing! With a wide array of activities and endless enjoyment, on behalf of everyone here at Jump we would like to say a big thank you to all involved its been a blast! But even though the summer is over and young people have returned to school, we are returning with after school workshops and half term festivities to carry on the fun!
Interested in coming to Jump Studios After-School sessions in Autumn 2021? Sign up here!