Generation Green

26 Dec

Showcasing our Young Green Maker Initiative

This exhibition showcases a series of workshops here at MAKE SW, in local schools and colleges. This was delivered as part of the launch of our Young Green Maker Initiative (Young GMI).

Our highly regarded Green Maker Initiative (GMI), established in 2021, supports makers on their journey to become more sustainable in their creative practice.

This year, we are excited to have launched our Young GMI, increasing the scope of our support to young creatives and advocating for the benefits of materials and practical skills-based learning in schools - something that has virtually disappeared from the schools curriculum.

For this programme, we asked our pledged Green Makers to run workshops in a local secondary schools, teaching the students about their sustainable craft. Our workshop aims are always for participants, both young and old, to learn practical skills and materials-based knowledge, and for these we also wanted to encourage dialogue and thinking about sustainability and choice of materials and techniques.

Workshops were held at Ivybridge Community College; Glendinning Academy, Newton Abbot; South Dartmoor Community College, Ashburton, Callington Community College and Heathfield Youth Club. The work you see here is the result of these workshops, alongside work by the tutors. We are grateful to The Arts Society and the National Lottery Heritage Fund for their support.

12 November - 23 November 2025
Riverside Gallery

“This was such a fantastic opportunity for the students to experience something outside of the curriculum and I have never seen them so focused.....it resulted in one of the best days I have had in my teacher career so far!” - class teacher

“...the imagination and thought they put into their creatures was lovely, for example one student designed a rhinoceros to represent the last rhinoceros left in the wild” - workshop leader

Do you know a young person who is involved with creative sustainable projects and might benefit from our support or guidance? We would love to hear from you or them. Please email Hannah Mills-Brown: hannah@makesouthwest.org.uk.

This exhibition, and the workshops that fed into it, has been made possible by generous funding from:

Part of the Green Maker Initiative Season

Throughout November, December and January we’ll be celebrating our Green Maker Initiative (GMI) Season; hosting events, workshops and exhibitions themed around the natural world and championing sustainable craft.

Find out more HERE.