Cultivating Change: Youth-Led Action and Intergenerational Collaboration for a Sustainable Future
09 Jan 2025
The Urgency to Act
In the context of our existential crises, especially in relation to the ecological emergency, there is an urgency to act. Forest of Imagination is a long-term creative research and public engagement project focusing on nature connection and social action, now working strategically with Young Green Creators (18-25) and Creatives Now (12-18) in Bolton. The initiative emphasises youth governance and voice, exemplifying cultural and environmental custodianship.
Building Young Green Creators
The formation of Young Green Creators began with a school youth-led climate conference, hosted by Gracie and Mimi, which evolved into an annual event supported and hosted by young leaders. Before this, Gracie had been involved with the Avon Schools Eco Network, a group of eco-minded students across Bath and Bristol organising climate-focused events and supporting each other through eco-anxiety. Their work inspired Ella, who joined to address her own eco-anxiety, and caught the attention of Forest of Imagination, which partnered with them to create Young Green Creators.
Once established, their focus expanded to hosting and contributing to meaningful events. At the Youth Climate Conference, they led focus groups where young people articulated their main climate concerns and explored solutions. These sessions created much-needed spaces to address eco-anxiety and build connections.
Young Green Creators became integral to Forest of Imagination’s annual roundtable, which promotes intergenerational collaboration and safe spaces for dialogue. At these events, young people and adults share ideas and rethink education to meet the needs of all generations. Their contributing insights emphasise the importance of youth inclusion in decision-making, and the group has enriched discussions with innovative perspectives on shaping a sustainable future.
Recent Collaborations with Creatives Now
Building on this momentum, Young Green Creators partnered with Forest of Imagination and Creatives Now for projects like Earth Ballot. This intergenerational activity, supported by Bolton-based artist Sally Tomato, used creative tools like placards and ballot boxes to spark meaningful conversations about climate action, amplifying youth voices while encouraging discursive collaboration across generations. These partnerships integrate arts, sustainability, and creative health into their work, making them a powerful force for community-driven change.
Creatives Now: Empowering Arts and Sustainability
Creatives Now complements the work of YGC and Forest of Imagination with a strong focus on arts, sustainability, and youth leadership. Formed in 2019 in response to consultations with Bolton secondary schools, Creatives Now addresses barriers to cultural engagement, helping young people realise their ideas and amplify their voices.
The organisation’s impactful projects include collaborations with social enterprise Recycle-IT like Digital Debris | Social Fabric, which transforms tech waste into art with artist-in-residence Zayd Menk, and Town of Children, linking activity to creative health and climate action.
Stella, a youth trustee at Creatives Now, has been a leading advocate for youth-led creative health spaces. Through BeeWell forums and discussions with local MPs, she has championed the role of creative practices in improving well-being and school attendance. Stella has addressed educators and cultural organisations, emphasising the importance of prioritising youth agency in cultural initiatives.
The youth collective has also hosted panels with prominent arts organisations, including Factory International, HOME Mcr, Manchester Street Poem, Headspace, and Breakdown Bolton. These panels have explored themes like playful cities and empowering young people to lead cultural design in their communities.
Collaboration in Action
Through its studio gallery space, artist residencies, and youth-led governance model, Creatives Now ensures inclusivity and accessibility while connecting local projects with national networks. Partnerships with Forest of Imagination and Young Green Creators on initiatives like Earth Ballot highlight the transformative potential of arts in sparking intergenerational conversations and driving climate action locally and nationally.
A Call to Join the Movement
Young Green Creators, Creatives Now, and Forest of Imagination invite educators, cultural organisations, and communities to join this movement. By championing youth leadership, encouraging intergenerational collaboration, and driving creative responses to the ecological emergency, we can shape a community-powered, resilient, and sustainable future.
Look out for news of an upcoming podcast from the youth organisations, sharing insights and stories from their work.
Photos to choose from:
some stuff by Zady Menk – 3 new sculptures developed from tech waste developed during Zayd’s residency with Creatives Now in Autumn 2024
Creatives Now youth trustees chatting with MP for Bolton North East, Kirith Entwistle.
Action painting sessions during Creatives Now’s Spring 2024 Town of Children project.
Creatives Now take over empty high street units and pose important questions about youth agency and cultural development.
Below are some of the Earth Ballot activities at Forest of Imagination 2024 in Bath.
