Social Practice Social is a monthly discussion forum for artists, programmers, community organisers, activists, and others working with participation, collaboration, public space, or social change.

This month we are joined by Kate Houlton, Children & Young People's Producer at Heart of Glass and artist Andy Field, who has been working with them to develop The School for Invisible Urbanists. Kate will tell us more about Heart of Glass’ approach and their philosophy that ‘art belongs everywhere, to everyone’. Andy will share ‘The School for Invisible Urbanists’ project; that takes the form of a secret society of young people who began to consider the changes they'd like to see in the world around them, and what they can do to initiate that change. 

This event will take place online via Zoom. Please register here to receive the meeting information.

Image: Stephen King Photography

Heart of Glass is a St Helens, Merseyside-based collaborative and social arts agency.

They believe that art has the power to bring us together and create real change, for the people of our community, and the place we call home. They unlock stories, reimagine public spaces, ask awkward questions and forge new connections. They do this because they believe that every one of us has the right to have our voices heard; our stories celebrated and our curiosity piqued.

“Our philosophy is simple: art belongs everywhere, to everyone.”

The School for Invisible Urbanists is a project developed by London based artist, writer and curator Andy Field together with year 5 pupils from Broad Oak Community Primary School in St Helens. They explore children’s capacity to make change happen in the world.

This project takes the form of a secret society of young people who began working with Andy in March 2020 and through a series of creative workshops started to consider the changes they'd like to see in the world around them, and what they can do to initiate that change. 

Using strategies drawn from street art, live performance, tactical urbanism and participatory design, they began by thinking about change on a civic level, but in light of the current pandemic they are now thinking much more locally about the homes they live in and what they can do to make them better in this moment of shared crisis.

A Young Person's Guide to Changing The World, generated from the project, is free to download via the Heart of Glass website.