Create, Make & Innovate Summer School
The Create, Make & Innovate Filmmaking Summer School focuses on creative entrepreneurship, widening participation and community engagement by creating opportunities for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to gain new skills in filmmaking and creative practice.
Taking place over several days and weekends in July 2025, around 20 young participants from areas including Castlemilk, Drumchapel, Easterhouse and Govan learnt about camera operation, filming, editing, sound, SFX and the wide range of opportunities that exist for diverse individuals across these sectors. The summer school concept was developed by Professor Karen Lury, Head of School of Culture & Creative Arts, and delivered by Glasgow’s community of creative freelance practitioners. Sessions have introduced the young people to University spaces as well as skills in filmmaking, sound recording and the art of special effects. By taking part, the young people have developed skills and a body of creative work and experience that has then been showcased and celebrated at a closing event.
Partners in the summer school pilot include Clydeside Initiative for Arts (SWG3’s charitable arm), Clutha Trust, Community Transport Glasgow, GMAC and Music Broth.
The Create, Make & Innovate Filmmaking Summer School was funded by the University of Glasgow’s Innovation Clusters Fund that was supported by the Scottish Funding Council University Innovation Fund and the UK government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Project Delivery Team
Tarka Heath, Youth & Community Engagement Manager
Jayme Bartlett, Workshop Manager
Gillian Dalziel, Support Staff
Kieran McLaughlin, Support Staff
Practitioners
Hugo Baillie, Sound Day
Rhonda Barclay, SFX Day; Sets & Props Day
Anthony Chalmers, GMAC Day
Nike Johnston, SFX Day
Cat McLeod, Filmmaking Day
Mia McGregor, SWG3 Day
Danielle Nixon, SWG3 Day
Cheryl Robertson, Sets & Props Day
Seamus Stewart-Skinner, Sound Day
Volunteers
Luisa Connarty
Barny Dempsey
Abby Gibson
Jay Hargreaves
Ally Nicolas
Nico Penden
Felix Round
"Before I never gave [working in the creative industries] much thought but now it seems so fun and interesting and a good job to have."
"I havent really left the house that much, because I don't have many friends in the area I live in, I have loved coming here and it makes me feel brave trying new things."
"I am not social with new people, I have anxiety and autism and it makes it really difficult. I have been the most social I have ever been here with new people, I have made new friends."
"I [now] feel less intimidated by the thought of trying to break into these industries. The summer school made it a very welcoming experience."
"[I now have] the confidence to start making films myself."
- Participants
"We built a framework for the summer school, but the young people steered the creative content. This process highlighted the importance of listening, stepping back when needed, and encouraging creative exploration in a supportive environment. In the end, the week was a powerful reminder of how creativity and co-learning can create safe spaces for young people to express themselves, build confidence, and develop transferable life-long skills, and what stood out most was the dedication, openness and courage that blossomed within the group."
- Project Lead
"We wanted to demonstrate that the creative industries are open to everyone and to dismantle the ‘invisible’ barriers to young people who have the enthusiasm and emerging skills that could make them a vital part of the local talent pool but who might never have imagined that there could be careers for them in what can seem like an ‘insiders’ industry’."
- Professor Karen Lury
