A group of young creatives are transforming the way we see nature, blending heritage, environment and creativity to explore green spaces and shared places.

This exhibition has been co-created through the Going Places project by The Young Creatives, a group of young people based at the Dales Countryside Museum have been exploring and connecting with nature through the museum collections and creative workshops. Focusing on themes of green spaces as shared places, the exhibition shares new stories and places young community voices at the heart of the conversation. Going Places is an Art Fund programme made possible with major support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and The Julia Rausing Trust, with additional support from a generous group of trusts, foundations and individuals.

Launched in 2025, the project will see young people exploring and connecting with nature through museum collections and creative activities and share their voice through co-created touring exhibitions.

Eight young creatives, aged 18-30, are working with the Dales Countryside Museum in Hawes, engaging in monthly in-person meet ups led by Museum staff and the Authority’s Access & Engagement Project Officer alongside external creative practitioners.

Museum Manager Fiona Rosher said: “The project is proving to be a great way to engage young people with our collections and encourage them to explore themes linked with the environment and rural life. We’re looking forward to seeing where the conversations take us and to help them share their voices through the exhibition in creative ways that will connect with other young people.”

The initiative aims to strengthen the relationship between local museums and their communities through consultation and collaboration, while also engaging and providing opportunities for those who are under-represented and underserved.

The young creatives have been exploring the Museum’s collections and considering potential themes to co-create the first touring exhibition. This will open at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire in July 2026, before being launched at the Dales Countryside Museum in October.