Accelerate Exhibition: The Bartlett Hosts Open City’s Taster Show for 2024

From 11-14 July, The Bartlett School of Architecture hosted the thirteenth annual Accelerate Exhibition in its ground floor gallery, showcasing work by 16-18 year olds from under-represented backgrounds who have taken part in this year’s Accelerate programme. For six months, its students have used their Saturdays to develop early knowledge and skills in the field of architecture and built environment, visit key architectural sites and practices across London, and benefit from mentorship. 

The Bartlett is one of four universities to partner with the programme, along with Central St Martins, University of the Arts London; Kingston University; and the Architectural Association, as well as Ravensbourne who will join the programme shortly.

The exhibition

This year’s show was formed around the theme ‘Ritual’, with a brief inviting the students to think about “the mundane to the mandatory to the celebratory… acts [that] form every part of life.” They logged journeys throughout London, thinking about the rituals that they and others engaged in across the communities and public and private spaces of the city. 

Each student shared their ideas, learning and experiences within the space of an A1-sized poster, exploring multidisciplinary skills and ways of working, including model-making, sketching, collaging and photography. A collective plaster-cast map of London – composed of individual tiles of places and city blocks - formed the centrepiece of this year’s show. This collective work is also now exhibited in the Assemble-curated Architecture Room at the Royal Academy Summer Show.

It has been a pleasure partnering with Open City on the Accelerate programme for another successful year, supporting students from underrepresented backgrounds who are keen to explore the built environment sector. Open City share our values and commitment towards outreach and it was amazing to see the quality of work produced by the Accelerate students during the exhibition. We hope the exhibition and Accelerate programme has equipped students with the confidence, self-belief and tools to pursue their passion within the built environment sector.”
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– Desart Ismaili, Outreach Manager, The Bartlett

“The Bartlett has been a firm and consistent supporter of Accelerate since its inception 13 years ago. Because of this support the programme has been able to expand year on year. The Accelerate Summer Exhibition was a wonderful opportunity to see how far the programme has come. We look forward eagerly to the next decade of working with the Bartlett and UCL, and all the possibilities that lie ahead for both the programme and our prospective students.” - Siraaj Mitha, Director of AccelerateThe Bartlett has been a firm and consistent supporter of Accelerate since its inception 13 years ago. Because of this support the programme has been able to expand year on year. The Accelerate Summer Exhibition was a wonderful opportunity to see how far the programme has come. We look forward eagerly to the next decade of working with the Bartlett and UCL, and all the possibilities that lie ahead for both the programme and our prospective students.”

– Siraaj Mitha, Director of Accelerate

About Accelerate

Accelerate was established by the charity Open City. It provides young people aged 16-18, from under-represented backgrounds, with a platform to create, express and develop their ideas as they consider their futures.

Throughout the course students explore careers in the built environment industries and develop the skills, portfolios, networks and confidence to make informed progression choices. 

The course consists of 10 skills development workshops between October and April, which includes visits to university campuses and sites across London while engaging with topics pertinent to discourse in the sector. 

In addition students are delegated into groups to professional practices operating in the built environment for a series of mentoring sessions to gain real work experience in the industry.

The programme was established by Open City, a charity which has dedicated the last 30 years to making London’s architecture more open, accessible and equitable. It is funded by external grants and sponsorship and is becoming one of the largest architecture access courses in the UK. This year it welcomed 90 students; next year’s cohort will comprise 120 students.

More information

• Learn more about Accelerate at Open City’s website
• Find out more about The Bartlett’s outreach activities

Images: Jazz Noble