WHERE WE ARE…
Introduction
Where we are… is a national programme for young people aged 16 to 24. It delivers meaningful projects through collaborative partnerships between the British Museum, cultural and third sector organisations, and young people. It aims to remove barriers to cultural engagement that young people may face.
Supported by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation and covering costs for all involved, the programme aims to engage young people who are under-served in the museum sector.
This project will be delivered by Right Up Our Street and Doncaster Culture Services, in partnership with The British Museum.
Where we are... provides young people with a range of experiences including project management, communication, creative problem-solving and networking. It also connects young people to a network of creative youth across the UK.
Details
Structure
The programme will run for 8 months from September of 2024 to April 2025, with two sessions per month. Applicants must be committed and available for the entirety of the project.
The selected group of young people for Where we are... will work together to evolve and shape the project as they journey through the programme.
Who?
Any young person aged 16-24
No prior knowledge, experience, or interest in arts and culture is needed.
The aim of this project is to bring young people who belong to communities underserved by the museum sector. This includes, but is not limited to, young people who identify themselves as: LGBTQIA+; from working class backgrounds; neurodivergent; disabled; having a migrant or refugee experience; from African Diaspora; from South, East and Southeast Asian diaspora; and/or ethnically diverse.
What will Young People get out of this?
All expenses related to the programme will be covered and the participants will also receive a stipend of £30 per session and an additional £10 to cover for expenses.
The Taster Days
30/07/2024
Central Family Hub
The first Where We Are… Doncaster Taster Day was facilitated by Visual Artist Sarah “Smizz” Smith and Musician Paul Littlewood. Paul and Smizz led zine creating workshops as well as songwriting workshops all focused around creativity, collaboration and Doncaster. Participants enjoyed a free lunch and got to hear all about the upcoming project and if they were interested in applying.
28/08/2024
Danum Gallery, Library and Museum
The second Where We Are… Doncaster taster day was facilitated by Theatre Producer Lauren Townsend and Singer Songwriter Philippa Zawe. Philippa and Lauren led fun activities giving the young people an opportunity to get to know each other and finished on a song writing workshop about Doncaster. Participants enjoyed a free lunch and got to hear all about the upcoming project and if they were interested in applying.
The Sessions
We’ve had a wonderful couple of months collaborating with the 15 fantastic young people selected for this project.
The group have been meeting regularly with sessions led by facilitator Sarah Smizz with Right Up Our Street and Doncaster Culture Services.
As the young people have been getting to know each other and exploring what they want their project to be during their sessions at the Central Family Hub on the Balby Bridge Estate, they have also had the opportunity to explore Doncaster via an #ArtTrail and have a workshop with Doncaster Festival of Light artist Morag Myerscough.
We can’t wait to see what the group will create together in the new year.
Where We Are Doncaster… visit the Wakefield Youth Forum!
The young people from the Where We Are Doncaster project were invited to visit Pontefract Castle to meet other young people at the Wakefield Youth Forum that have been through the same programme of work.
The Doncaster group shared their learning and journey from the project with the fellow young people via a presentation and they were fantastic. Huge well done guys!
The Exhibition
Our 15 young Doncaster creatives have transformed their personal journeys into a powerful exhibition exploring the bedroom as a space between childhood and adulthood.
FROM STRANGERS TO FRIENDS
At the start of this project – originally called Where We Are, we were 15 random young people from all across Doncaster who didn’t know each other. By the end of this journey, we haven’t just grown in our experiences and our ability to work with different creative mediums and people—we’ve also become a close group of friends. This sense of belonging and connection has been key in the work we have created together for this exhibition.
This is an exploration of how and who we may wish to present ourselves –part longing for childhood whilst being told to let go.
ABOUT THE SHOW
This exhibition explores the bedroom as a space caught between past and future. It’s a reflection of who we wish to be and a longing for what we’ve left behind—a mix of childhood comforts and the societal push to grow up. In this in-between space, identity is shaped, memories linger, and change feels both exciting and uncertain.
Step into a space filled with the echoes of growing up: plush dragons, model creatures, band posters, crochet art, bean bags, and beds. Exam notes pinned to walls mix with snapshots from disposable cameras. Sounds spiral around you, as headphones and speakers immerse you in a nostalgic, calming, interactive experience.
WHO WE ARE ARTISTS
Isaac, Zophiya, Jess, Honey, Jia Hui, Bug, Michaela, Lidjia, AJ, Aidan, Betsy, Alejandro, Jack, Liliana & Alex.
WHY THIS MATTERS
The Where We Are Project exists because young people aged 16-25 years old are often not included or represented within the arts and culture. This is something that has bonded us and is important for us, to challenge this lack of representation. It is important that our work reflects the lives of other young people, as well as ourselves.
This project is about belonging, comfort, and navigating that space between who we are and who we’re becoming. It’s about feeling okay, feeling safe, and realizing that the bedroom isn’t just a physical place—it’s an emotional one too.
Collaboration has been at the heart of this exhibition. Working together has made ideas grow and flourish, creating a safe, welcoming space where everyone feels heard and valued. The group has been a place of connection, support, and creativity—a rare and beautiful thing.
HOPES FOR THE SHOW
We hope this exhibition feels nostalgic, calming, and welcoming. We want it to feel like a safe place—a space where you can reflect, dream, and remember what it felt like to be caught between childhood and adulthood.
WHY PROJECTS LIKE THIS MATTER
It’s important to make space for underrepresented voices, for stories that don’t always get told. It’s important to come together, feel seen, and reflect on where we fit in the world.
With many thanks to the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, the British Museum, Right Up Our Street and Heritage Doncaster
