Broadgate Stories – app’s the way to do it

Grand narratives: Broadgate Stories in the making at SPACE. Photograph: SPACE Studios

SPACE studios has teamed up with young people to make a smartphone app.

The arts organisation worked with a group of 25 young people from Hackney aged 18 – 22 who were trained in SPACE’s Media Lab to understand the technology behind and create content for a GPS iPhone App and audio guide, called Broadgate Stories.

The focus is Broadgate, the large office and retail estate off Liverpool Street in the City of London. As well as its iconic architecture, Broadgate is renowned for the strength and variety of its public art, which includes sculpture, lighting and water features from major British and international artists.

The audio guide takes visitors around the outdoor art installations with sound effects, vox pops, stories and interviews with artists and the people who work at Broadgate.

The project was initiated by SPACE and sponsored by British Land to help digital and media savvy youngsters in Hackney gain the experience, skills and confidence to seek employment in the growing digital and creative sectors in East London’s Tech City.

The app was created with partners Amblr (who made the Hackney Hear app) and the young people received valuable training at SPACE from audio industry professionals, Ignite Creative.

Through working on the project, twenty-three young people gained their Arts Award, which inspires young people to grow their arts and leadership talents and achieve a nationally recognised qualification. For some the work they produced went towards gaining their BTEC qualifications.

Fiona Fieber, Head of Learning & Participation at SPACE said: “The programme plays a crucial role in providing inspiration and entry-level skills to Hackney’s young people, making a real difference by offering training for the digital and media jobs of tomorrow.

“One young participant told us: ‘I found it really interesting going to Broadgate and seeing different types of art that I wouldn’t usually even notice.’”

Former Broadgate artist-in-residence Robert Mason said: “This was such a great project to work on. The students really listened to what I was saying and I think they caught some of the passion I feel about the Broadgate art and architecture!”

SPACE runs visual artists’ studios in eighteen buildings in across London, with over half of them in Hackney. As well as supporting artists through the provision of affordable work space, the organisation provides platforms which enable creative people to experiment and develop, and for the public to engage with this creativity.

SPACE set up the Learning & Participation programme to support artists by creating opportunities to develop their careers with funded projects, commissions and residencies, as well as professional development and training.

The Broadgate Stories app is available from the iTunes store.