Helping young people build and grow, creative and cultural businesses and events; that represent themselves and their communities

About Us

Future Foundry is a social enterprise to help young people establish or grow sustainable businesses and events. Future Foundry projects bring young people together within their communities – creating connections and highlighting pathways to success. They promote the creative industries and encourage other people to be inspired by and make a local impact. Young people can access training, resources & cultural events throughout the year. Creative people forging futures.

Our Focus

Future Foundry establish first steps and progression routes into the creative industries for all young people. We aim to tackle barriers facing marginalised young people engaging in the arts and creative industries; to generate a more sustainable, diverse and representative creative community and creative industries workforce. Through building lives and careers that fulfil them and earning a living doing something they love; young people are empowered to affect positive change in the world and the places they live.

Projects

Future Foundry has taken on many projects that aim to build on the creative and cultural industries for young people, particularly less advantaged and marginalised young people. Some of the projects include the Walk with Amal (WWA) October 2021, Dover PrintFest, Dover Pride, Waking the Giant 2022, & Ceramic Art Dover activities. All of these projects and groups also provide free access to professional training, introductions to entrepreneurship, social enterprise, market trading, start-up & support with freelancing.

Upcoming Events

Get ready for the Dover Youth Festival 2024 this Autumn Half-Term, from 26th October to 3rd November!

It’s packed with free, fun stuff for anyone aged 11 to 19. Whether you’re into gaming, football, fashion, outdoor adventures, or hands-on creative workshops like stone carving and beach sculpture—there’s something for you! Plus, there’s a pop-up cinema, stargazing, bushcraft, and loads more. It’s the perfect chance to hang out, try cool new things, and make a difference. Don’t miss out on the best week of the year! Click on the button below for the full programme and booking details.

The Forge Youth Art Club

The Forge is Future Foundry’s free weekly art club for all 11-16 year olds. No experience is necessary to come along, it’s super friendly, and all materials are provided. You can try out whatever you like at the Forge, including: drawing, zine making, fashion design, upcycling, ceramics, anime, print design, lino printing, tie dye, film making, painting, graphics, street art, pet portraits, card making, scrap sculpture, jewellery making, photography, illustration, badge making, plus more. At The Forge, you’ll have the chance to join group trips exploring arts and culture in Dover and the wider Kent area, along with opportunities to create, prepare, and sell your work at real-life markets!

If you have any questions, just email office@futurefoundry.org.uk. @Biggin Hall, CT16 1BD, 12-3, every Saturday.

Future Foundry Film Club

The next Future Foundry Film Club will be held on Thursday 10th October from 5.30pm-7pm at Biggin Hall (Biggin St, Dover, CT161BD). Future Foundry Film Club is a free club for 11-19 year olds, where we watch films, talk about films, and learn to make films. It’s open to all young people in the Dover area and no experience is necessary.

Come and be part of it. We would love to see you there! 

Email office@futurefoundry.org.uk with any queries or questions, or DM us on social media. 

New Creators Art Club

 

The New Creators is a free, creative, after school club for young adults in the Dover area aged 14-19. This is a club for young people to have a go at lots of different types of art and develop creative projects as part of a team. Led by the amazing arts practitioner Nova Marshall and the Future Foundry artist team, activities have included designing a mural for Dover Train Station, learning about photography, hands-on fashion + design projects, creating an animation for a film night, and exclusive trips! New Creators aims to improve the local environment, whilst encouraging leadership and visibility for young people.  No skills or experience needed. 

Email office@futurefoundry.org.uk with any queries or questions, or DM us on social media. 

Future Foundry Highlights

FLY WITH ME DOVER

We were excited to partner with Good Chance Theatre to create one of the 46 Fly With Me events across the UK and Europe. With the aim of celebrating the ancient Afghan craft of kite-making, flying kites as a symbol of freedom and solidarity and raising awareness of the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, one year on since the fall of Kabul.

CLOSING THE LOOP

Closing The Loop will offer an introduction into all things Circular; it will explore sustainability, entrepreneurship, design methodology and creative enterprise. We aim to help develop businesses that promote the circular economy in creative ways – which could be through a new product or service, through upcycling, recycling, by creating events or plays or even installations or artworks!

WALK WITH AMAL

We were excited to welcome Little Amal with our Dover communities in October as one of the 80 welcome events! Little Amal is walking from the Turkey Syria border to Manchester between July – November 2021. #thewalk is a travelling festival of art in support of refugee’s bringing together cultural organisations, community groups and humanitarian organisations across Europe. Check out #thewalk’s full events programme. More info can be found at walkwithamal.org

DOVER WINTER LIGHT UP

A day of activity at Ladywell included incredible @ceramicartdover Raku Firing demonstrations and a music programme created by @doverpride and @frazerdoyleceramics that was just fabulous. The finale line up was hosted by @miss_lilli_berlin and included debut performances by Dover’s first AFAB Drag Queen @itsemmapanda Drag King @gavin_alarrf. Thanks to @doverdc, @dovertowncouncil @destinationdover and @acegrams for supporting the event.

WASTE FREE FASHION COLLECTIVE

CLAYDATE

DOVER PRIDE

STUDENT MAKERS MARKET

Partnerships

Dover Pride

Young Creative Producers

Ceramic Art Dover - Claydate

Young Creative Producers

Dover Repair Cafe

Environmental & Ethical Business

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Young People

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Marginalised Backgrounds

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Progress into the Creative Industries

Who We Work With