dolphins don't live here

Ways of Making was a two-year creative programme for young people in Medway who are not in education, employment or training. Led by artist Savinder Bual, and delivered in partnership with Medway Youth Service, it was designed to support young people to explore their own creativity by experimenting with different ways of making, together.

The programme responded directly to the interests of the young people, who worked with lead artist Savinder Bual to select the materials they wanted to engage with and steer the direction of each session. A small box of materials including clay, cardboard, string, and wire was constantly re-used and repurposed throughout, foregrounding sustainable artistic practices.

This publication, dolphins don’t live here?, was initiated in the final week of sessions and led by the young people who participated in the programme’s second year. In close dialogue with Savinder and artist bookmaker Sunday Best, they reflected on the work they’d made over the course of Ways of Making and how they wanted to present it: collaborating with one another to choose their favourite moments and document their thoughts on the programme as a whole.

Looking out from the windows of Sun Pier House whilst helping to pack up at the end of the final session, the group spotted a dolphin leaping in and out of the River Medway and rushed out to greet it, giving rise to the publication’s title.