Broadgate Stories 2012

As part of a bespoke project called Broadgate Stories, Hackney media students, working in SPACE MediaLab, were given training to provide them with digital & creative sector entry-level skills and inspiration. The aim is to make a real difference by helping young people into the jobs of tomorrow.

Sponsored by British Land, Broadgate Stories, (named after the area in London that the project focuses on), showed the students how to create content for and introduced them to the technology behind an innovative GPS iPhone App, audio guide.

Broadgate is a City of London business district, surrounding Liverpool Street Station. As well as its iconic architecture, Broadgate is renowned for the strength and variety of its public art, which includes sculpture, lighting and water features from major British and international artists. After an initial training period in the MediaLab and exploring the estate (including a trip to the top of The Broadgate Tower for a panoramic view of London from a dizzying 165m in the air), the students decided which of the sculptures and art works they most wanted to work with. They then went into the field and recorded vox pop interviews with passers-by, workers in the area and some of the staff on the estate to create an enjoyable and varied audio tool to engage people with the art works and the area.

The programme was used to support existing courses, as well as all students taking and gaining Arts Award qualifications. Towards this, they built and populated a Wordpress blog and wrote reports on the training.

The App launched in June, with an award ceremony at the Broadgate Welcome Centre. It’s now available to download from iTunes taking visitors around the outdoor art installations with sound effects, vox pops, stories and interviews. 

SPACE worked with Ignite Creative to produce Broadgate Stories, and Amblr, to create the App. 

The young people attended the On Track course designed by partners Hackney Community College for people aged 16 – 18 who are looking to return to education.

The programme was generously sponsored by British Land, with support from Broadgate management.

For further info please contact Fiona Fieber, Head of Learning & Participation - fifi@spacestudios.org.uk.