We were invited by Factory International to contribute to their Social Content Creators Academy in June 2022, delivering sessions focused on how creative content can be used to explore place, amplify local knowledge and drive social change.

In our first session, we introduced participants to the journey from local issue to public-facing creative output, using our recent campaign Placemaking Piccadilly as a case study. The group explored how storytelling, visuals and collaborative making can open up conversations between communities and decision-makers, before producing a shared artwork reimagining Manchester’s central public space through utopian ideas.

The programme then moved into how social content and digital platforms can be used to highlight local issues and inspire action. Participants mapped their own networks of support, discussed why social action matters at a local level, and explored how content can act as a tool for visibility, connection and influence.

In the second session, we started speaking about social content creation. We explored how technology and short-form video can help people experience places they may not have access to, whether due to cost, mobility or confidence. Participants took part in an interactive virtual tour of Manchester by Invisible Cities, learning how digital storytelling can centre lived experience and alternative perspectives.

Then our participants created their own short-form video content (TikToks and reels) celebrating the places that are meaningful to them. They developed ideas, filmed and shared content that combined personal storytelling, local knowledge and platform-native formats.

This session was a lot of fun and brought up some interesting questions; do you think creative content could revolutionise travel to make it more accessible? What local areas are special to you? Would you ever make a video or content sharing them with the world?