The National Saturday Club has always valued the immensely collaborative nature of our network, including tutors, young people, and partners. This year we decided to introduce a brief that focuses on Clubs seeing their Summer Show content as one collaborative piece, created together and celebrating the community of the national network. Clubs from across the country have devised inspiring, creative work – everything from short films and tapestries inspired by their city’s heritage, to heraldic shields that are designed with a focus on identity, visual explorations of folk stories, sculptures inspired by marine life and renewable energy, and so, so much more. My personal highlight is the display of over 1000 self-portraits showing the very faces of our Club members. You can see them in the Summer Show but also online here. I love them so, so much.
The exhibition is zoned by each National Saturday Club subject: Art and Design, Craft and Making, Fashion and Business, Film and Media, Science and Engineering, Society and Change, and Writing and Talking. The cross-disciplinary nature of the work is evident across all displays, highlighting the diversity of ideas and the power of bringing people together to innovate and create. There’s a clear message of collectivism and the power of collaboration. These young people know they have each other and don’t need to tackle anything alone. They’re socially engaged, passionate and think outside of the box. It’s a key lesson in how we could all approach life: with an abundance of patience, community, resilience, empathy, going with the flow... and joy.
The work of young people is rarely celebrated in prominent cultural spaces – so, we invite you to step inside and embrace outside-the-box thinking with next generation of creative leaders and innovators.
The National Saturday Club Summer Show runs from 15 - 18 July 2003
