Over 100 young people from across the City of Westminster have reimagined one of London’s most iconic public spaces — Marble Arch. Through their reflections, observations and lived experience, the Marble Arch Youth Assembly have developed ideas for a live project that will be seen and valued by designers and decision makers.

The Marble Arch Youth Assembly is a youth engagement project developed and coordinated by Publica, collaborating with five youth organisations — The Avenues Youth Project, The Feathers Association, London Tigers - Amberley Youth Hub, Caxton Youth Organisation, City Lions —young workers at Selfridges, and Publica’s work experience students.

The Youth Assembly’s work was launched to the public and key stakeholders in an exhibition and celebration event designed and installed by Publica, held as part of Open House Festival at CasildART Contemporary in Connaught Village.

41 collages, 50 body maps, a collective manifesto and architectural model displayed their bold, collective vision for the future of Marble Arch throughout the gallery. A video featuring voice recordings from the workshops gave visitors an intimate window into participants’ experiences of the area.

Visitors were also invited to participate: a collage-making table offered a hands-on creative activity for young people, while a reimagining of the 1928 TfL poster ‘Alight at Marble Arch’ invited visitors space to write their own hopes for improvements to the area. An exhibition flyer included a body mapping exercise that visitors could take home and try for themselves.

More than 90 visitors were welcomed in — filling the gallery with energy and conversation for one special night. It was inspiring to hear from several young participants about their imaginative and hopeful visions for the future of Marble Arch.

The ideas from the Marble Arch Youth Assembly have the genuine potential to shape the future of this space. The outputs of this programme are testament to the importance of working with and genuinely listening to young people about what they want their city to be — a space that truly improves the lives of the next generation.