Every child is born with the capability to imagine – bursting with curiosity, wonder and an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. But children today have less time and space than ever to use their imaginations.
Imagination is the cornerstone of creativity, problem solving and innovation. It’s an essential skill for life. However, opportunities to imagine, explore and experiment without pre-determined outcomes are increasingly rare. In a 24-hour society, children’s lives are often overscheduled.
At the Institute of Imagination, we’re creating a climate where ideas can thrive. A new way for future generations to become makers of things, not just consumers of things. And a public space that prioritises imagination.
To bring the Institute of Imagination to life, we’re working with experts, teachers, parents and – most important of all – children. All united by the belief that imagination matters.
We have already sparked the imaginations of over 17,000 people through schools and in their local communities with a wide range of creative and innovative events and activities for children, their families and teachers.
In 2017, we launched our new Imagination Lab to help us to reach more people than ever before. It is London’s most exciting space for imagining, exploring, investigating and creating, offering activities and materials that exist nowhere else in the capital.
This is a major step towards our creation of a permanent world-class cultural destination in London, which will place children and their imagination at its heart – the iOi Campus.
The Imagination Lab is allowing us to deliver much greater impact now, and, once open, the iOi Campus will allow us to significantly scale our reach to make an even bigger difference for children; at 100,000sqft space it will allow us to directly engage 600,000 people each year and to elevate the discussion around imagination to a national and international level.