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A young college student walking a catwalk for a fashion show in the town centre, dressed in clothes made from upcycled clothing
19 September 2024

Making change in Kent

with our partnerships with East Kent College Dover and Kent Wildlife Trust.

Young college student with sunglasses on wearing clothing made from upcycled clothes for a fashion show

Since November 2023, Artswork’s Young Cultural Changemakers have been working with EKC Dover College and Kent Wildlife Trust. Students from different departments such as Art, Hair and IT have participated in a series of workshops from natural dye-based textiles and fashion to cyanotypes, curation, DJing and graphic design. Young people who took part in these workshops created a nature and wellbeing-based exhibition and trail. They also worked on designing and creating their own outfits for a fashion show. All these skills were showcased at our reveal event on 4 July 2024 and held throughout Dover at different local venues.

Young college student walking during a fashion show wearing clothes that are made from upcycled clothing

One of the main projects of the Young Cultural Changemakers was with art students who designed works for a nature and wellbeing workshop, where they met with Kent Wildlife Trust and a series of artists working with nature and wellbeing practices. Each of the young people involved created an artwork which was displayed in the St James Shopping Centre Dover. They also showcased some of their work in busy places in the town such as a charity-based cafe supporting homeless people, a busy cafe in the centre of the town and the new arts club. 

The other workshop included sewing, which some of the young people had never done before. After the workshop, some of them mentioned that they are now considering pursuing sewing as their career. 

I didn’t think I could do this (Skill), I always wanted to but didn’t think I would be able to do it, now I know I can, and I want to keep doing it.

Eight college students walk along a paved catwalk wearing clothes made from upcycled materials

The finished pieces of clothing and accessories that were made were presented in a catwalk show and the young people did their own hair and make-up. After the catwalk, the audience went to the Exhibition, where the young participants talked through their artworks. One of the young people said that the training Artswork provided really helped her as she was worried about the communication elements. 

“This has really helped me with communication and confidence.” 

She talked to everyone that evening and continued for the week we held the exhibition, which ended up with people wanting to buy her work. 

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