Announcing The Forum

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A new touring installation bringing communities together to contemplate a better world.

Touring 5 x Lincolnshire Towns from 9th August to 10th September 2022


Throughout June 2022, Zest Theatre led 20 free workshops with over 400 young people aged 10 – 19 in schools and colleges across Lincolnshire. Commissioned by Lincolnshire County Council, these workshops created a space for young people to ponder the future of their county, asking ‘what does Lincolnshire need to offer for you to thrive here?’

Workshop discussions particularly explored the county’s environmental future and the young people’s thoughts on climate change. Zest’s workshop team cultivated over 2,000 quotes about their concerns, questions, and visions for Lincolnshire over the coming decades.

The Forum is a pop-up town square that will share these inspirational quotes in towns across Lincolnshire this summer. The installation has been colourfully created to gather people of all ages in the heart of their community to consider the thoughts of young people. Over the course of 5 weeks, The Forum will visit Lincoln Castle, Tower Gardens in Skegness as part of SO Festival, Wyndham Park in Grantham, Boston Market Place, and Louth Cornmarket.

A close up of the model box for The Forum. A large quote is displayed on a green and orange kiosk, sounded by boxes of the same colour.

The model box of The Forum design

Toby Ealden, Artistic Director of Zest Theatre comments: “The last few years have taken their toll on young people. They are facing a mental health crisis and have so many unheard concerns about the future. Projects like this are needed more than ever to allow them to feel seen and heard. It’s been incredibly inspiring to listen to Lincolnshire’s young people share their thoughts and ideas through these workshops. We hope The Forum will share some of that inspiration, encouraging communities to come together and contemplate the future of this place we all call home.”

Councillor Colin Davie, Executive Director for Economic Development, Environment and Planning at Lincolnshire County Council adds: “This is an exciting project and offers young people the chance to tell the council what is important to them and how we can support them to thrive as young adults in Lincolnshire. I’m looking forward to using their insight when we come to develop future services for young people. Climate change is an important issue for Lincolnshire County Council and helping everyone to identify the part they can play in reaching net-zero carbon emissions is an important objective of the Green Masterplan.”