'Real Imagination' 2012: An exploration of how children in an interface area of Belfast see their world

Real Imagination showcased the creativity of primary school children in North Belfast and introduced study at the University as a way of turning imagination into a creative career. Children taking part in the project were supported in imagining, designing and realising new spaces within North Belfast, exploring their world as they see it and as they would like it to be.Through art-based drawing and modelling workshops, devised and delivered by Mike McQueen, the children explored ideas to make positive improvements in the spaces of their lives. Using his experience as an architect and spatial designer, Mike then lead student volunteer team members and the children in developing these ideas as temporary interventions or ‘pop-ups’. Through these interventions, children had access to authentic experience of their potential to initiate positive spatial change in the spaces of their lives.The ideas activities and ambitions of workshops and realised pop-ups were recorded and turned into billboard advertisements to be displayed for a two-week period in their area, showcasing the childrens’ the work to local communities and commuters on main arterial routes. In addition the project was highlighted in Belfast City Council City Matters distributed to 130K homes and online and attracted substantial public and media interest. Postcards of the billboards were disseminated within the communities.