Future Makers Lab is a hands-on education program connecting secondary school students with experienced artisan makers as part of the Heritage Hands Festival: Sandgate.
Delivered in partnership with Young Change Agents, the program introduces students to traditional skills, specialist tools and creative practices, while encouraging them to consider the challenges and opportunities facing craftsmanship today.
By combining practical experiences with creative problem-solving, Future Makers Lab explores how the knowledge of experienced makers can inspire the next generation.
Students will meet experienced craftspeople and explore the specialist skills, materials and techniques behind their work.
Through hands-on activities and conversations, they’ll gain an understanding of what it takes to develop and sustain a traditional craft.
Students will hear directly from makers about the challenges facing their practices, from preserving specialist knowledge to attracting the next generation of craftspeople.
Working collaboratively and guided by Young Change Agents, students will explore creative solutions to challenges identified by participating makers.
The program concludes with students sharing their ideas and reflections with makers, educators and invited stakeholders.
Friday 6 November 2026
9:00am–2:00pm – Maker experiences, collaborative activities and creative problem-solving, including breaks
2:00–2:30pm – Student presentations and program wrap-up
Future Makers Lab provides opportunities to:
Experience traditional and specialist crafts firsthand.
Discover creative industries and potential career pathways.
Develop creative thinking, collaboration and problem-solving skills.
Understand the importance of preserving specialist knowledge.
Explore how traditional practices can inform contemporary ideas.
Heritage Hands × Young Change Agents
Future Makers Lab brings together Heritage Hands’ commitment to documenting and celebrating traditional craftsmanship with Young Change Agents’ approach to youth-led innovation and entrepreneurial learning.
Together, the organisations aim to create meaningful connections between experienced makers and the next generation.
Future Makers Lab is a closed education program for participating schools and invited students. It is not open for general public attendance.
The broader Heritage Hands Festival offers public workshops, demonstrations, a Makers Market, talks and other activities across Friday 6 and Saturday 7 November.
Heritage Hands is built on collaboration.
The support of individuals, businesses, organisations and community partners helps us bring makers and audiences together, create opportunities for young people, document specialist knowledge and make Heritage Hands experiences accessible to the wider community.
Whether you make a donation, support a program, contribute expertise or resources, or partner with Heritage Hands, your support helps us preserve valuable skills and create opportunities for them to be shared with future generations.
We work with businesses, organisations and institutions who share our commitment to skills, knowledge, creativity and community.
Partnerships can take many forms, from financial and in-kind support to program collaboration, expertise, promotion and resources.
Our Heritage Hands Investment & Partnership Prospectus introduces the broader vision for Heritage Hands and the opportunities to be part of its development.
