Young Creator’s lab

Young Creator’s Lab | Summer 2026

Three standalone creative days at Lady Bay Scout Hall, open to young people aged 10–15. Each day is self-contained - come to one, two or all three.

The summer days have been designed to give young people an extended creative experience in a relaxed, unhurried environment. Rather than a single evening session, each day offers five hours of making, experimenting and discovering - enough time to go deeper, try more, and build real confidence in what they can do. No prior experience needed. No outcomes expected. Just time, materials and a practising artist to guide the way.

Making & Mark

A day of drawing, printing and mark-making — exploring surfaces and materials to find the visual language that's yours and no one else's.

Art & Science

Latex, ink, vintage microfiche and a handful of techniques that sit right on the edge of science and art.

Curious Objects

Small things. Big ideas. A day of making intimate objects that hold more than they let on.

The details

Three standalone creative days at Lady Bay Scout Hall, Nottingham NG2.

Each day runs 12–5pm. All materials provided.

Tuesday 11 August — Making & Mark
Tuesday 18 August — Art & Science
Tuesday 25 August — Curious Objects

Ages 10–15. Maximum 10 young people per day.

Pricing
£60 per day
£165 for all three days — saving £15

Young Creator's Lab alumni discount
£50 per day
£140 for all three days

Paul holds an Enhanced DBS and uses the update service. A parental consent form will be sent on booking.

To discuss the days before booking, get in touch via the contact form.

Young Creator’s Lab is a nine-week creative programme for young people aged 10 to 14 that offers space to explore, experiment and find their own voice, without the pressure of exams or right answers.

Small groups, a practising artist and educator, real materials, and the freedom to experiment. Not about being good at art - about building the confidence to think, create, and trust your own ideas.

Each session offers a different creative challenge: drawing, storytelling, art and science, working with uncertainty, collaborative making. There are no expectations on outcomes, no right answers, and no pressure to call yourself an artist. Just time, materials, and a small group of young people making things together.

The next full Young Creator's Lab will launch in January 2027

What happens in the Young Creator’s Lab?

Nine Creative Sessions

Tuesdays, 4.00–5.45pm at Lady Bay Scout Hall.

Starting in January 27.

Each Thursday evening explores a different challenge drawn from the 5 Cs framework: Curiosity, Creativity, Critical Thinking, Collaboration and Communication.

Sessions build across the nine weeks, from individual making through to a collaborative installation and final pop-up exhibition.

A different kind of making

Most of what young people make at school gets marked. Young Creators Lab is the other kind of making — where the process matters more than the outcome, and getting it wrong is part of how you find your way.

Sessions are loosely guided with prompts and starting points, but are never prescriptive.

They'll make marks, build things, experiment with processes like latex and ink, and discover what happens when you try something you've never done before.

A pop-up exhibition

The programme ends on 16th July with a pop-up exhibition — a chance for participants to share what they've made across the nine weeks.

This is a key part of the programme, the chance to reflect and recognise their achievements.

It’s a moment of celebration rather than assessment. Families and friends welcome.

Led by a practicing artist and educator

Young Creator’s Lab is led by Paul Liptrot, artist and creative educator. Paul has led on a variety of workshops and was the lead for the Midlands Maker Challenge at the Museum of Making in Derby, working with over 350 young people.

Paul loves working with young people to help them develop and brings genuine excitement about materials and process, and a belief that everyone has something worth making.

Coming Up

The Young Creator's Lab is growing. Three new programmes are planned — sign up to be first to hear when booking opens.

Autumn Term — Lady Bay

A new nine-week series at Lady Bay Scout Hall starting September. Booking opens soon.

Autumn Term — City

A new series in central Nottingham starting September. Booking opens soon.

Want to be notified when booking opens?

Book Now

Booking is currently closed and will become active when new dates are added

NINE-WEEK PROGRAMME (19 Jan 2027) — Pay Per Session
£54.00

£18.00 per session. Deposit of £54 to secure your place, paid in blocks of three through the website.

Young Creator's Lab is a nine-week creative programme for young people aged 10 to 14 — space to explore, experiment and find their own voice, without the pressure of exams or right answers.

What's included

  • One Tuesday evening creative session, 4:00–5:45pm

  • All materials provided

  • Led by practising artist and creative educator Paul Liptrot

How it works

  • Sessions run Tuesdays 4:00–5:45pm from 19 January to 23 March 2027

  • No session on 16 February — half term

  • Lady Bay Scout Hall, Nottingham

  • Paid in blocks of three sessions through the website

  • Prefer to pay in full and save £27? Book the Full Programme instead

Practical details

  • Ages 10–14

  • Up to 10 young people per cohort

  • A short onboarding form is completed as part of booking, followed by a consent form covering full details and photo permissions

  • Paul holds an Enhanced DBS and uses the update service

To discuss the programme before booking, get in touch via the contact form.

NINE-WEEK PROGRAMME (19 Jan 2027) — Full Programme (Save £27)
£135.00

£135.00 for the full nine-week programme — a £27 saving against paying per session. Pay in full, or split into two automatic payments at checkout.

Young Creator's Lab is a nine-week creative programme for young people aged 10 to 14 — space to explore, experiment and find their own voice, without the pressure of exams or right answers.

What's included

  • All nine Tuesday evening creative sessions, 4:00–5:45pm

  • All materials provided

  • Led by practising artist and creative educator Paul Liptrot

  • A £27 saving against booking session by session

How it works

  • Sessions run Tuesdays 4:00–5:45pm from 19 January to 23 March 2027

  • No session on 16 February — half term

  • Lady Bay Scout Hall, Nottingham

  • Pay in full, or split into two payments at checkout: £67.50 now, £67.50 automatically charged on 2 February 2027

  • Prefer to pay as you go? Book per session instead

Practical details

  • Ages 10–14

  • Up to 10 young people per cohort

  • A short onboarding form is completed as part of booking, followed by a consent form covering full details and photo permissions

  • Paul holds an Enhanced DBS and uses the update service

To discuss the programme before booking, get in touch via the contact form.