Reframe: Inspire Schools 2025-26
Getting creative at school with digital tools, in our latest project in partnership with Apple
The 2025–26 edition of our Reframe: Inspire Schools project coincided with the 75th anniversary of the Festival of Britain, a groundbreaking cultural moment that looked optimistically towards the future through art, technology, science and architecture.
Drawing on this landmark cultural event which was celebrated across the nation in 1951, in cities including Birmingham, London and Manchester, participants explored what’s important to them as young people today.
The stories and legacy of the Festival of Britain offered a jumping off point for our artists and young people to explore being young in Britain in 2026, through workshops that included collage, digital illustration, graphic design, research and discussion.
Project aims and outcomes
Delivered in partnership with MAC and Factory International, Inspire Schools is a creative multimedia project for KS3 pupils. It aims to inspire young peoples’ interests in different creative fields, increase access to cultural opportunities and digital technology, and improve levels of digital literacy.
Using the latest Apple technology, our young participants worked collaboratively with each other and professional artist-educators to create a digital ‘zine. Weaving together poetry, visual art, mixed media and digital technology their unique ‘zines explored themes of community, culture, and identity, exploring and celebrating their world today.
21schools
105workshops
476young people
The participants
Birmingham
The zines created by pupils in Birmingham celebrated their local area, looking at the history and famous figures that have hailed from the city, to the music, shops and landmarks young people see every day. The zines include digital drawings, photographs and collage.
The schools
Aston Manor Academy
BOA Digital
Holte School
Lordswood Boys
Rockwood School
Selly Park Girls
Uffculme School
The artists
Alima Rico
Rachel Rollins (technical support)
London
The zines created by London pupils drew inspiration from the 1951 Festival of Britain to look at life for young people in 2026. Using the categories explored in the Festival of Britain’s Dome of Discovery – such as The Land, The Sea, Transport and the People of Britain – the young participants looked at areas that matter to them, including music, mental health and the environment, weaving digital design with analogue zine making.
The schools
The Complete Works
The Elmgreen School
Haberdashers’ Hatcham College
Highbury Fields
Prendergast Ladywell School
St Michaels’ Catholic College
St Ursula’s Convent School
The artist
Lu Williams
Manchester
The zines created by Manchester’s pupils also took the theme of the Festival of Britain as a jumping off point, but using it as a means to look to the future. The young participants delved into their personal dreams, as well as their hopes for a better world for everyone, bringing together their ideas using collage, poetry and digital design work.
The schools
CHS South
Kingsway Park High School
Irlam and Cardishead Academy
Manchester Enterprise Academy
Manchester Secondary PRU
Redwood Secondary School
Saint Paul’s Catholic High School
The artists
Jasmine Isaaka
Mike Emerson (Mike Sian Ltd)
Delivery partners
Reframe Inspire Schools is supported by Apple and produced by the Southbank Centre with Factory International and the Midlands Art Centre.