Exhibition celebrates creative collaboration between schools, businesses and artists
More than 20 schools have been working with world-leading companies and organisations on their doorstep as part of the Camden STEAM Hub.
On Wednesday (10 July) some of the fantastic creative work that has been coming out of this partnership was on show in an exhibition at Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London.
The Camden STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and maths) Hub is led by Camden Council, Camden Learning and a team of five schools - 21 primary and secondary schools have taken part in the last year. In year two, a further 15 to 20 schools will take part in the hub so that, by the end of the year, two thirds of Camden schools will have participated.
The Camden STEAM Commission brings together the borough’s schools, businesses and other key institutions to highlight Camden’s unique STEAM economy and build better connections between schools and businesses.
The Commission’s report examined the importance of the fusion between creative, digital and scientific skills, which young people will need to access 21st Century jobs, and looked at ways to address barriers to participation and under-representation. Since the launch of the Commission’s findings, a partnership of Camden officers and leaders from our schools and colleges - the Camden STEAM Team - have been working on the development of a programme of activity in Camden. As well as the STEAM Hub, this includes:
- The 21st Century Talent Pledge – 41 employers have signed so far, including Argent, Arup, Bennetts Architects, the British Library, Eurostar, Exterion Media, Google, Lendlease, LabTech, the Roundhouse, Ted Baker, UCL and the Wellcome Trust.
- STEAM Ambassadors - builds a network of trained, DBS-checked volunteers who can support schools in a variety of ways, such as lesson activities, careers talks, speed networking, assemblies and mock interviews. 54 STEAM Ambassadors from 23 organisations have been trained since December.
- Camden Challenge – Last summer the Ted Baker Challenge ran for 15 young people. In July this year, five Camden Challenges will be delivered by Argent, Conran Design Group, Lendlease with Central Saint Martins, Heatherwick Studios x STORE, and Ted Baker – with places available for 80 young Camden residents / students to take part.
Education in Camden is dynamic, collaborative and creative. The Camden STEAM exhibition celebrated the talent of our young people and the bravery and commitment of their teachers who have worked with employers to create the Camden STEAM Hub, giving pupils the opportunity and skills to re-imagine the future. We want to make sure that the world-leading companies here in Camden are not just places young people walk past on their way to school but places where they gain inspiration and opportunity. Our message to Camden’s employers is you will find so much diversity, creativity and energy when you open your doors to Camden’s young people.
Dinah Caine, Chair of the Camden STEAM Commission, said:
“Our STEAM programme aims to promote Camden’s successful creative and knowledge economy and to ensure our businesses continue to succeed by having access to diverse, young, local talent. For this to happen, it’s vital that today’s local young people and subsequent generations have STEAM embedded into their education, their out-of-school activities, their careers advice and work placement opportunities, working in close partnership with business, education, young people and the council.”
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