The project is an invitation to young creatives aged 13 – 25 to explore, experiment, and connect with others across the world. 

The young creatives taking part draw inspiration from 5 bespoke video art pieces, before responding to them through creative tasks, discussions, and workshop activities. 

In 2021 the first cohort of The School of Hope, with 75 young creatives from 9 partner organisations from 5 countries across 3 continents, took part in workshops and Zoom masterclasses, leading to hundreds of conversations and artworks around the theme of empathy.

The project provided a space for them to meet, discuss, discover and find their voice as artists and as a creative thinkers. By reflecting on the values and beliefs that are important to them and to different communities, they creatively shaped their thoughts into social and political artistic responses, connecting them to the wider world.

We commissioned 4 exceptional British artists to each create a bespoke filmic artwork on the theme of empathy; along with our own original artwork, which were at the heart of the online programme. These commissioned artworks were made by Akeim Toussaint Buck, Arwa Aburawa, Sonny Green, Jade Anouka as well as by The Paper Birds. We also consulted with diverse young people from around the world in the development of The School of Hope and received mentoring via the Young Vic’s, ‘Young Mentor’ scheme around how to shape the project.

We collaborated with Academics to shape the project and measure its impact. Laura Taylor (University College Dublin), Katrina Brown (University of Exeter) and John Lambie (Anglia Ruskin University) helped us to plan lessons and measure the project’s impact. The qualitative and quantitate findings from The School of Hope Academic’s research were extremely favourable, with levels of empathy and pro social behaviour increasing in 53% of all of the young creatives surveyed. 64% of the young creatives also showed an increase in Civic Participation.

The School of Hope culminated in the creation of a short film, A Call for Radical Empathy, made by Naomi Waring based on the young artists’ thoughts about empathy and encapsulating their artistic responses. The project was also documented by filmmaker Kee Lewis who created a short documentary to tell the story of the project. Both films premiered on Thursday 18 November 2021 at an online Graduation event which saw the young creatives and Academics involved in the project, along with professionals working in theatre and Youth Arts and 4 invited UK-based artists, join together to look back at the project and celebrate the achievements of the young people involved.

Our learning from The School of Hope then went on to inform the development of our show Feel Me.