In December 2019 Emergency Exit Arts in partnership with Output Arts created the Innovators Imaginarium which was part of the Blackfriars Story Programme commissioned through Southwark Council. The project culminated in a spectacular illuminated parade which processed around the Blackfriars mile and involved hundreds of local children and their families. This project explored the inventors and innovators who came from Southwark and who made a significant contribution to the world in the field of science, technology and engineering. Key inspirations which themed our work and process were Charles Babbage, Ada Lovelace, Octavia Hill, Michael Faraday and David Kirkaldy.

The Innovators Imaginarium took inspiration from these ground breaking people and we began to create a methodology where science and the arts would work in tandem to allow a creative hands on exploration of STEM subjects, with the desire of making STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths). Our outreach programme saw primary schools matched up with industry experts and they were assigned one of innovators/inventors to use as a muse. The expert shared their knowledge and experience of the innovator/inventor, and the artist was commissioned by the school to create a perambulatory machine based on the innovator/inventor’s work, and captured the ideas of the participating primary schools. These inventions were then part of an illuminated parade which was led by EEA’s Bin Bot and culminated in an inventor’s fayre in mint street park.

Support from Edge Foundation has enabled us to encapsulate our process and create the following resource for KS1 & KS2 primary schools teacher. The aim of this resource is…

• To put the “A” in STEM to promote STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths)
• Provide cross art form ideas.
• Provide teachers with a tool kit of exciting and accessible ideas for them lead in their classrooms.
• Use the arts to provide an enquiry-based approach to learning.
• Bite-sized activities which align to the curriculum.

We hope this resource will help to catalyse more creative enquiry in your classroom and fo more information on our Creative Engagement programme please click HERE