inclusion by design
OUR CREATIVE COMMUNITY
Welcome to Our Community!
OCC is a socially minded outreach focused company in Bristol, committed to hosting affordable and funded creative groups in architecture and art to students 12 - 18 years.
We are very pleased to be able to offer free community places for our sessions. If you are interested in one of these places, please get in touch via email. Spots will be reserved on a first come first served basis.
Young Architect's Group
Weekly, 12-18 years
Welcome to the UK's only weekly architecture group! Our sessions are structured to teach our students the basics of building and spacial design to help them understand the implications of their design decisions.
We also support students who wish to apply to read architecture at University by assisting with compiling a portfolio, personal statements and course selection advice.
Along as our tutors Kate and Elena, we will have volunteer undergraduate and masters architecture students from UWE assisting in the sessions, alongside drop-ins from local architects. It is a great opportunity for skill sharing, confidence building and for budding architects to ask those studying the subject about university life.
However, you don't need to be a budding architect to join our group. Architectural education provides students the opportunity to practise a multitude of transferable skills such as critical & creative thinking and visual & verbal communication. Our studio classes and design briefs are created to mirror topics discussed at degree level, covering topics such as sustainability, inclusivity and innovation and engaging our students with environmental, societal, and cultural challenges.
Body Positive Life Drawing Group
Monthly, teens welcomed
On the last Sunday of each month, Our Creative Community hosts an inclusive life drawing session in collaboration with the University of West England.
As well as holding a space for the students of Frenchay campus to practise their creativity and recording skills, we also invite younger creatives to join us. This unique offering allows us to share this experience, which provides a healthy and alternative view to the edited images of bodies we see every day in the media in a completely desexualised setting away from the male gaze (click here to read more).
We also recognise the importance of the visual arts in their ability to share stories and narratives, as well as their power to ground the artist and create a freeing and mindful experience.
Our sessions are completely beginner friendly. Drawing materials are provided but we do ask that students bring their own sketchbook.
Our safeguarding is rigorous and all our models are DBS checked and well known to us. Please review our Life Drawing page to see how we keep our creatives and models safe and supported during our classes.
We work/ have collaborated with several brilliant local companies and institutions, including:
City skyline
My son Thomas (14 years) has attended 2 of the architecture classes so far and what can i say - he's loving it. Already signed him up for the half term course. He comes home really enthusiastic explaining what he's done and what they are hoping to achieve. Great way to explore his interests in architecture that can't be taught in school. Highly recommended it.
~ J. Vailes