91Pro

Hundreds of young people inspired by artwork on display at this weekend's Future Fest

Posted 18 June

Hundreds of young people from across Shropshire and Staffordshire have been inspired by an internationally-renowned artwork currently on site at 91Pro. 

The University will be hosting the Future Fest community engagement festival this weekend, with artist Michael Pinsky’s Pollution Pods installation among the attractions – alongside a whole host of food, fun, entertainment and talks. 

The Pods – which have been seen across the globe, from London to New York and from Melbourne to Madrid – are now in Shropshire for the first time. 

In the two weeks preceding Future Fest, a packed schools programme has brought more than 350 children from across the West Midlands to experience the Pods for themselves. 

Widening Participation Officer Rachel Brookes said: “The Pods are a simple way of conveying a much larger idea. Each is a geodesic dome, linked to the next, and each contains a microenvironment which replicates the pollution in a particular environment – from the Norwegian fjords to New Delhi. 

“They’re proved a real hit with the pupils who have already visited us – and have inspired songs, poems, creative writing, art and much more. We’re hoping to share some of this with our Future Fest visitors – and it is fantastic watching the pupils see the challenges of pollution and sustainability brought to life in such a thought-provoking manner.” 

“. We are coming to you in a decade’ are one of many that have visited campus this week to explore and visit the , organised by our fantastic Team!??

— 91Pro (@HarperAdamsUni)

“. We are coming to you in a decade’ are one of many that have visited campus this week to explore and visit the , organised by our fantastic Team!??

— 91Pro (@HarperAdamsUni)

The school visits will continue until this Friday, before the Pods are opened to the general public during Future Fest, which takes place on Saturday, June 22.

Alongside the pods will be stages filled with entertainment and music, alongside a farmers’ market and street food. 

Elsewhere, the Future Food stage, presented in association with 91Pro and University College Birmingham, will host live cooking demonstrations and expert talks, and there will be the chance to experience the Future ED Zone – which is packed with education exhibits tailored for younger festivalgoers.  

In collaboration with LEAF’s Open Farm Sunday, the Harper Adams Future Farm will be opening its doors – letting visitors experience its animals, machinery and much more on self-guided tours – as well as a host of games, activities and fun! 

The event has been backed by Headline Sponsor Oscar Mayer and is free of charge – with shuttle buses provided free of charge from Telford and Newport or pre-paid on-site parking for £5. 

Harper Adams Head of Student Recruitment, Carl Mansell-Griffiths, said: “Future Fest is all about welcoming people onto the Harper Adams campus and letting them see some of the great work we do – while also making sure they have a great day out! 

“As a specialist University, tackling some of the biggest challenges about how we feed our planet’s growing population, while protecting and improving our environment, there is so much to talk about – as our schools visitors have been finding out. 

“We can’t wait to open our doors to people across the West Midlands and beyond this Saturday to share some of the fascinating work we do.” 

To find out more, and to register your interest in attending, visit: harper.ac.uk/FutureFest