Much of W+K recently took a half-day out to volunteer for the latest installment of Forever Curious, the agency programme that sees us working with local kids to nurture their creativity. The latest theme, “My Creative Life,” was all about getting kids to reflect on and look forward to an inspired present and future.

We met kids from Newport School and Millfields School at Chats Palace Arts Centre in Hackney Wick for a session of word games and creative collaging. The curious kids were asked to think of words that represented creativity, themselves, and a word to describe their future with the help of our W+K volunteers. They also reflected on where they’d like to live and what they could see themselves doing years from now.

In the end, it was a day of many smiles and laughs for both the kids and volunteers, all powered by the kids’ infectious energy and imaginations.

Last Friday morning a group of Forever Curious kids from Newport primary school visited W+K. They were here to take part in the pilot workshop for the third instalment of Forever Curious – ‘My Creative Future’.

The idea behind My Creative Future is to get everyone thinking about their creative past, present and most importantly future. These thoughts are then manifested in vibrantly decorated cards.

Our volunteers eagerly awaited the children’s arrival and when they appeared; both sides were greeted with pleased enthusiastic faces. We gathered in a circle and remembered the fun we had at the workshops and exhibition in the summer.

After some warm up games the kids and their buddies gathered around a table that was full of various postcards. Everyone had to pick three postcards from the selection on the table. One that in some way made them think of their past, present and future.

These postcards were then used to inspire the making of artwork at three different creative stations on larger cards.  The stations were themed, Black and White, Fluorescent and Primary Colours.

After much cutting, sticking, painting and drawing some dazzling work was made. The themes were individual and varied; from “clumsiness” to “tidal waves” from their past.  One child showed how music made them feel inspired in their present. Their chosen future professions inspired some of the creative future cards – doctors, policeman and teachers to name a few while others showed how they wanted to continue learning creativity from role models like mothers in their future.

After everyone had a chance to say a word about their cards we sat in a circle and said our heartfelt goodbyes.  We all had a magnificent morning and the volunteers from the agency were blown away as always, by the creativity of the children.