The Climate In Your Hands: empowering young people's engagement in climate action through Zine-making

My current research centres on how adolescents from socially marginalised groups critically engage with social justice issues through reading and writing. As such, the project aims and objectives are to: Engage young people from socially marginalised groups in arts education/training, and make them aware of and gauge their opinion on the issues of climate change, inequality in the movement and in cultural production; Understand underrepresentation in the climate action movement - as represented through creative works - from the perspective of young people; Create zines around the participants' experiences of climate activism/the climate action movement; Co-create a digital 'climate change zine creation' guidelines document for use in the classroom; Introduce young people to the creative industries in Scotland, as a potential career, and to help them develop different creative skills; introduce young people to research and help them develop research skills; Co-create a reciprocal dialogue and partnership between University of Glasgow (UoG) and Glasgow Zine Library (GZL); Help young people develop a network/community of practice, to exchange ideas and work together on addressing climate change; and Create an archive of digital material for future use.

These will be met through a robust programme with the following components: Four, 90-minute, zine workshops with a group of 15-20 participants (Saturdays); Four, 30-minute, asynchronous masterclasses with prominent Scottish artists and activists (available to participants and schools throughout Scotland); Digital guidelines on how to create climate action zines in the classroom, to be circulated to schools in Scotland. The guidelines will be co-created with the participants and workshop leaders during the workshops and feedback session; The creation of zines, as a physical artefact for the participants; Building a creative and social justice network.

The project partners are GZL, a community archive and hub, and zine library based in Govanhill. GZL also hosts workshops, film screenings, discussion groups, reading groups, children's arts and crafts, and social clubs. Their events are community-focused and designed to be affordable and accessible.

GZL have experience of hosting both physical and digital events with young people. In 2021, their Zine Fest was held online, featuring a virtual zine fair and online events. The GZL also have experience working with this age range (14-18) through their Young Producers Programme, which aims to create opportunities for young people in Govanhill in the field of community arts organising.

Timeline:

Jul-Aug: Circulate details to schools and community groups etc. to recruit participants and make them aware of digital guidelines; Confirm workshop and masterclass leaders

Sept: Digital focus group and pre-project evaluation with participants (30 mins: Led by MRB): Introduction to the project and research discussion; Digital workshops 1 and 2; Workshop and homework activity: Co-create a guidelines document for schools (i.e. how to create a climate action zine in the classroom); Film and develop 4 on-demand masterclasses (Frank Whitely: drawing/art production, Holly Gillibrand: youth activism, Amanda Thomson: nature writing, Cameron Mackay: multimedia).

Oct: Digital workshops 3 and 4; Workshop and homework activity: Co-create a guidelines document; Access to Masterclasses (participants); Evaluation: Feedback focus group with workshop leaders (MRB); Design and produce guidelines for schools

Nov: Circulate guidelines and masterclass access to schools; Physical (if possible) focus group (30 mins) with participants: Feedback and evaluation of the workshops (at UoG or GZL, after COP26); Social event: 'film and a chat' (screening of, and discussion about, a documentary or film about climate change, at UoG or GZL)

Dec: Social media campaign (with UoG): schools to send images of their own zines based on the guidelines; Project evaluation