Working with 20 engineer volunteers (students, employed and retired) and our freelance artists we delivered workshops to community groups in Tinsley, Mexborough, Shiregreen and Wincobank, including parents, schools and older people (200 participants in total). We explored the heritage of engineering through creative activities, visited engineering work places and the University of Sheffield engineering department. The project culminated in a final exhibition, engineering and art walks and a seminar on Art and Engineering, at Gripple, which attracted over 200 people. We aimed to bring engineering closer to the community and promote its links to creativity and imaginations.
 

• 75%  of the engineer volunteers said they had increased enthusiasm for communicating about the sector and awareness of the benefits this for engineers and the community
   

• “It was a very positive and rewarding experience that connects people to engineering in very concrete ways.” Engineer volunteer
   

• “I feel that I have engaged with the sheltered housing community and shown them that Sheffield has much more to offer then the stereotypical view of Sheffield having only a steel industry.” Engineer volunteer
   

• 76% of children and young people want to find out more about engineering
   

• “A quiet boy within the group took an interest in everything that the engineer students had to say and asked detailed questions. Throughout the seven weeks you could see his understanding and interest in engineering deepened to the point that he came up to me with a detailed drawing of an idea he had for a building that could float and asked if I could ask the university if they would look at his idea and see if it would work. He stated in the film he now wants to be an engineer!” Artists’ case study

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Royal Academy of Engineering funded