In January to March 2025 we set up 3 new art groups in 3 different venues in Malvern: The Octagon, Malvern Value Community Centre and Malvern Cube. 16 young people took part in total, aged between 12 and 16. 

Over 6 weeks, the participants worked with an artist to respond to the theme ‘Courage’. Each group took a different approach and each young person interpreted the theme in their own way. 

The project finished with a public exhibition at Malvern Theatres in March – April 2025.  We held a launch event and invited the young artists, family and friends, and local councillors to see the work and celebrate the young artistic talent in Malvern. 

The Octagon with Sarah:

This group had different participants attending each week, so artist Sarah Edwards invited participants to contribute to three collaborative pieces: giant cardboard signs painted in vibrant colours with slogans promoting the courage it takes to be yourself, to be creative and to be different.  

Some participants did some extra work looking at courageous characters and cars. 

 

Malvern Vale Community Centre with Roz:

In this group, everybody wanted to explore something different. Roz worked with each young person on a one-to-one basis, discussing ideas and suggesting new materials and techniques they might be interested in using to convey what they wanted to say about courage. They produced a range of fantastic artwork including splash painting, mood boards, intricate illustrations and paintings using lots of bold colours. 

 

Malvern Cube with Mark:

Mark introduced lots of different materials in the every session and the group decided together which ones they would all like to try. Each young artist had the chance to experiment with lino cutting, polymer clay, designing boxes, stencil making and spray painting. They finished the project with a range of work and selected which pieces they wanted to exhibit.  

Impact:

• 93% said they enjoyed The Forge ‘very much’. 

• There was also a measured shift in confidence for group-working with new people, from 14% saying ‘somewhat confident’ in session 1, to 65% saying ‘somewhat confident’ or ‘very confident’ in session 6. 

• Words participants used to describe The Forge: ‘Exciting’, ‘Fun’, ‘Amazing’, ‘Enjoyable’, ‘Rememberable’. 

Look through photos from The Forge: Malvern 2025: