National Saturday Club
The National Saturday Club is a partnership programme between Birmingham City University’s College of Jewellery, Fashion and Textiles. It is aimed at giving 13–16-year-olds the opportunity to explore their creativity, discover their talents, develop their skills and study subjects they love for free, at their local university.
The National Saturday Club will run over sixteen sessions, where club members will have the opportunity to develop a wide range of creative craft and making skills. They will have access to BCU’s fantastic Fashion, Textiles, Jewellery and Art and Design facilities with sessions led by inspiring BCU staff.
Last year's work
This video showcases some of the student work that was created during last year's National Saturday Club. It includes a variety of different artistic disciplines
This year’s club is Make, Do & Mend where club members will get the opportunity to develop their creativity, imagination and experiment with and explore some of the hand-making skills and techniques used within DIY fabric, jewellery and paper crafts including recycling, up-cycling, weaving, sewing, folding, applique, collaging, sculpting, stitching, printing, and much more.
Club members will also be introduced to the sustainable practices of re-using, up-cycling and mending. Using found and donated materials they will be encouraged to engage in important conversations and narratives that promote sustainability, equality, diversity, and mental wellbeing.
quotes from former club members
“Saturday Club really helped to boost my confidence and my imagination.”
“Attending Saturday Club has given me freedom and a voice; I am powerful through art.”
“Coming to Saturday Club made me see that I have potential.”
“Saturday Club was epic! A splendid experience and I cannot wait for next year’s club.”
“Coming to Saturday club made me feel happy!”
There will be the opportunity to go on trips to the Ikon Gallery in Birmingham and attend the National Saturday Club’s annual Graduation ceremony and see their work exhibited at The National Saturday Clubs Summer Show at Somerset House in London and at an exhibition of the years’ work here at BCU.
As well as having lots of fun, craft and making skills can lead to rewarding careers and club members will get an insight into the future possibilities and professional opportunities open to them within the jewellery, fashion, textiles and art and design sectors. National Saturday Club also looks great on a CV.
Interview with our club tutor
Victoria Coutts has been a club tutor and coordinator at the University’s Craft&Making Saturday Club. Here, she talks about developing the club’s curriculum, ‘craftivism’ and creating an environment where club members can freely express themselves.