Art / COP26
Creative youth response to COP26
Curated by the Vanguard team and sponsored by Vans, a new exhibition opening on Wednesday, November 3 at The Vestibules in City Hall is showcasing artwork from children in Bristol in a creative response to COP26.
A series of workshops from Let’s Make Art involved 650 young people across the city, helping them to create personal and environmentally focused pieces directly inspired by the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a collection of aims and objectives to help protect the future of the planet and its communities.
“More than 40 per cent of the global population are between the ages of 10 and 24 years old – the largest youth population ever,” reflects Karen Davies, who runs Let’s Make Art, along with Alice Hendy.
is needed now More than ever
“To solve the world’s problems, the next generation needs to be aware of them and the SDGs outline how we can build a happy, healthy world for the future.”

Windmills decorated with positive actions – photo: Let’s Make Art
The artwork on show at Vanguard x Vans Future Youth exhibition is a visual call to action to those in positions of influence, and indeed all of us, to do more in the pursuit of a sustainable future.
The selected pieces include:
- Tiles adorned with drawings of endangered animals
- Handmade windmills covered with actions on how to safeguard the planet
- Stickers to depict the 17 separate SDGs, from climate action and access to affordable and sustainable energy, to gender equality and an end to poverty and hunger

Children with their artwork from Vanguard x Vans Future Youth – photo: Doug Gillen
Vanguard x Vans Future Youth is free to attend, opens on Wednesday, November 3, and runs for two weeks (Mon-Fri, 10am-8pm, closed weekends). The Vestibules are located at either end of City Hall, College Green, Bristol BS1 5TR.
Main photo: Let’s Make Art
Read more: ‘Tomorrow is too late’ – the new climate emergency book by 16-year-old
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