One Generation Hull project reaches over 35,000 people
One exhibition. One library. Over 35,000 people through the door. That's the scale a single Generation Hull project has reached this summer, and it's worth telling that story properly before rounding up everything else that's been happening across the programme.
Where it started
Before any of it reached a library, this was a Malet Lambert project led by artist Lauren Saunders, built around an exciting brief: create a colourful, story-filled art installation made entirely from paper and cardboard, showing a group of magical, animal-inspired creatures gathered together in a shared world.
Students built it in three stages. First, each pupil designed their own animal or elemental alter-ego, inventing a name, a backstory, special traits, and how their creature related to the others in the group. Then, working together, they built a shared story around these creatures: what kind of world they lived in, and what message the finished installation should send to anyone looking at it. Finally, they turned that story into a zine, a simple storybook designed to give audiences a way into the world they'd built.
That process produced two separate outcomes. The zine was shared at Big Malarkey Festival and reached 3,068 people. The installation, meanwhile, opened at Central Library to an audience of 62. But it went on to be seen by far more than that: Hull Libraries have confirmed the Central Library's own visitor figures for the exhibition's full run, 18th June to 30th July, at 35,906 visits through the front door.
That's one school's project, born out of invented creatures and a paper-and-cardboard installation, reaching more people than most campaigns see in a year.
The story elsewhere
Eastfield
The finished graffiti project was exhibited in the playground to 80 staff and 625 pupils, each with a parent along, for a total audience of 1,330. The Instagram post alone generated 12,000 views and 232 likes.
East Park
Their finished graffiti project was exhibited across the playground and school walls to 500 pupils, each with a parent, for an audience of 1,000.
Thoresby Primary
The illustrated book, Rainbow of Emotions, was showcased to over 70 pupils, teachers, parents and VIPs. Hull Libraries are also featuring the book as part of their school offer going forward.
Boulevard Academy
Their school anthem was showcased to over 250 pupils, teachers and parents. A video is planned for next year.
Ron Dearing UTC
Nineteen microfilms were shown to 47 students and staff.
Overall
Add it all up, and Generation Hull's work has reached over 41,000 audience visits so far this year, plus over 12,000 views online, and there's still more to come.