Chester Beatty Library, Ireland
The Chester Beatty Library holds a collection of rare books and manuscripts from all over the world. Chester Beatty’s Creative Lab for Teens is the first in-house club set-up for teens aged 12-17 years and was established in January 2014. The programme was originally set-up with the advice of the City of Dublin Youth Service Board http://www.cdysb.ie/.
Young people are encouraged to both participate as well as contribute to the programme which includes monthly workshops (lasting over 3 hours). The club has two designated coordinators who specialises in youth work as well as art / craft / design. Each month a specific theme is selected based on a temporary exhibition in the Chester Beatty Library and/or a related theme e.g. animation,
robotics, book-making, electronics, craft, etc. The Library and coordinators work with teens to programme future events through feedback sessions at each event (over a hot chocolate break). The Library has formed partnerships with a number of local organisations: TOG Maker Space, Science Gallery Dublin,
Festival of Curiosity, to deliver the sessions. It is paramount that the teens are empowered not only to participate but also to feedback and lead workshops.
http://www.cbl.ie/Education/Book-workshops.aspx#Creative_Lab_Club