The Make Space Festival
The festival aims to encourage teenage girls to engage in public spaces, try new things, meet new people and have fun! Events are free to attend and include Sports & Exercise, Arts & Crafts, Performing Arts, Creative Writing, Nature Crafts, Wellbeing Sessions, Photography and more.
The festival is aimed primarily at 10-18 year olds, with some events suited to 8+, and some for women too!
Research highlights that girls use parks and open spaces decreases compared to boys as they enter their teenage years. As parks are so beneficial to physical and mental health, the project wants to reverse that trend and get girls out into the public space. The project focuses on empowering teenage girls and expanding their access to public spaces.
The festival of free events has run each June since 2023 offering over 40 free events. The festival is only able happen due to any grant funding, donations and sponsorship. If you’d like to support the festival – get in touch!
The planning for the festival and call out for events starts in January each year and runs until the start of March, so if you’d like to be involved, do get in touch – makespaceyork@gmail.com
Read more information about running an event in 2026 and how to express interest by clicking the button below:
See the celebration blog on the Make Space Festival 2025:
“We want to create a space where girls can feel safe, confident, and empowered to be themselves. Every girl deserves access to public spaces and the opportunities they offer.”
Abigail Gaines project creator and lead.
If you’d like to join the mailing list to find out about the project in general and updates – you can sign up using the button below.
The Make Space Festival 2025
The term ‘festival’ is used loosely – it’s a range of events and activities in the parks to create a buzz and a feeling of community. In 2025 the ‘festival’ ran over two weekends and two parks. Most events needed booking in advance, but some are drop in on the days!
It’s about community and connection – a chance to try new things, meet new people and for girls to feel empowered in the public space.
The full 2025 programme can be viewed below.
Thanks so much for your support with the project and to all those who ran activities. The Make Space Festival 2025 was made possible with support from York Children’s Trust, The Joseph Rowntree Foundation, The Mount School and The Friends of Rowntree Park.
This is a grass roots project focused and co created with teenage girls from York – their views and ideas drive it!
Find out more about the whole project here.
Buy a Make Space Festival Tote Bag here.
Find out more about the whole project here.