Creative young people recognised at awards

News

16th July 2024

Topic Education
Technology
Sector Education

Creative youngsters have been recognised for their contribution to helping shape a new Sunderland landmark.

Culture House Sunderland, a multi-purpose cultural venue and city library packed with interactive, educating features and a year-round programme of activities, will open next year.

In order to offer young people the chance to play a part in the development, the team recently held the Creating Culture House in Minecraft competition, which gave people aged seven to 25 the chance to design the teen room at the new venue.

The winning Minecraft designs will shape the atmosphere and use of this space, ensuring it attracts young visitors for years to come.

Leanne Littlewood, Culture House Sunderland director, said: “It was great to be able to recognise the fantastic creativity of young people in the city who have come up with some terrific designs.

“It’s brilliant to have a competition that offers them a chance to express their creativity but also hone digital skills, which are increasingly valuable.

“Culture House Sunderland will be a venue that is open to everyone and will have something for everyone, so we’re really keen to ensure that people have a chance to shape what that looks like.”

The competition was made possible through a collaboration between Sunderland City Council, Microsoft, Culture House Sunderland, TA Education, Together for Children and FaulknerBrowns.

The ceremony was held on 12 July at the TechHub at The Beam, a short walk from Culture House Sunderland, with winners and highly commended entries presented on the day.

The entries were assessed based on how creative, collaborative, dynamic and futuristic they were, with ‘use of Minecraft’ as a tiebreaker. Twelve entries were shortlisted out of 47 total submissions from different community groups and schools in Sunderland.

Minecraft acts as a digital canvas where users can bring their ideas to life, practising problem-solving, collaboration and programming.

Liz St Louis, director of smart cities and enabling services at Sunderland City Council, said: “We are thrilled to see the creativity and innovation displayed by our young people in the Creating Culture House in Minecraft competition.

“Sunderland’s leading smart city infrastructure, supported by our valued partnerships, has made it possible for us to integrate advanced digital tools like Minecraft into educational initiatives. This not only inspires but also upskills the next generation of digital leaders, giving them a taste of careers in digital, creative and tech-driven sectors.

“Culture House Sunderland will stand as a testament to our city’s commitment to fostering technological advancement and community engagement, ensuring that we remain at the forefront of smart city development whilst opening up opportunities for all.”

Located on Keel Square, within the heart of the Riverside Sunderland development, Culture House Sunderland will boast a state-of-the-art library and provide a permanent home for the city’s modernised local history and archive collections, with spaces for exhibitions, storytelling, learning, gaming, media and arts and crafts.

To keep up to date with the developments, visit https://culturehousesunderland.co.uk

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