V&A “Upstart: Build for Activism”. Photo credit Hydar Dewachi, 2026.

Two people stand among large, colourful wooden blocks in a gallery space at the V&A, surrounded by classical paintings on the walls. Engaging with the interactive Upstart exhibit, they collaborate to build structures for activism, creating a dynamic dialogue between art and action.

V&A “Upstart: Build for Activism”. Photo credit Hydar Dewachi, 2026.

A grand museum hall in the style of the V&A, adorned with classical paintings and an ornate altar, features colourful rectangular blocks with circular patterns—an installation that invites visitors to build structures for activism—carefully arranged in rows on the floor.

V&A “Upstart: Build for Activism”, 2026.

People interact in a museum gallery filled with large wooden building blocks, using them to build structures that spark creativity and collaboration. Decorative arches, artwork, and a tiled floor are visible, with adults and children scattered throughout the space.

V&A “Upstart: Build for Activism”. Photo credit Hydar Dewachi, 2026.

A wooden workbench with holes, a mallet, and printed step-by-step construction instructions—part of the Upstart initiative at the V&A—invites visitors to build structures for activism; wooden blocks and structures are visible in the background on a tiled floor.

V&A “Upstart: Build for Activism”, 2026.

A person walks through a V&A museum gallery with large paintings on the walls and colourful wooden blocks arranged in structures across the floor, reflecting efforts to build structures for activism and upstart creativity.

V&A “Upstart: Build for Activism”. Photo credit Hydar Dewachi, 2026.

A person stands among large wooden blocks with colourful dots, arranged as a playful installation in the grand V&A museum gallery. Surrounded by classical paintings and an arched ceiling, the scene invites visitors to explore how creativity and upstart ideas can build structures for activism within this iconic space.

V&A “Upstart: Build for Activism”. Photo credit Hydar Dewachi, 2026.

Large wooden blocks with colourful dot patterns are assembled into towering structures in a V&A museum gallery, surrounded by classic paintings and a sign inviting visitors to Build Structures for Activism with 3D modular blocks, inspired by the Upstart initiative.

V&A “Upstart: Build for Activism”, 2026.

People observe a colourful wooden block installation in a museum gallery with large paintings and an ornate altarpiece. High arched ceilings and detailed architecture frame the spacious room, reflecting the spirit of Upstart within the renowned halls of the V&A.

V&A “Upstart: Build for Activism”, 2026.

People interact with large wooden blocks arranged in a creative structure inside the grand halls of the V&A, where arched ceilings and classical paintings provide an inspiring backdrop. This immersive installation encourages visitors to build structures for activism, sparking dialogue and engagement within the museum’s historic setting.

V&A “Upstart: Build for Activism”, 2026.

Wooden blocks of various sizes and colours are stacked into a playful, abstract structure in the V&A art gallery, where tiled floors and classical architectural details set the stage for visitors to explore how we build structures for activism in contemporary spaces.

V&A “Upstart: Build for Activism”, 2026.

A structure made of stacked, unfinished wooden boxes with holes is displayed indoors on a tiled floor, reminiscent of the creative initiatives showcased at the V&A. A framed painting in the background complements this thought-provoking Upstart installation, inspiring viewers to build structures for activism through innovative design.

V&A “Upstart: Build for Activism”, 2026.

A sculpture made of stacked wooden crates stands in a gallery at the V&A, surrounded by classical paintings on the blue walls and a patterned tiled floor—a striking example of how upstart artists build structures for activism within traditional spaces.

V&A “Upstart: Build for Activism”, 2026.

V&A “Upstart: Build Structures for Activism”

From Barricade & Beacon to Play Folly: Learn to Build, our work with the V&A continues to blossom as we joined forces once again in May 2026 for our Build Structures for Activism workshop!

The U-Build team transported and set up a huge collection of materials from our Box Library for the interactive workshop, which took place in the extravagant Raphael Cartoons Hall and invited passers-by to engage with different building materials and hand tools. The day of construction took part within the wider Upstart festival, a careers event that offered support and opportunities of exploration for young people who are interested in pursuing one of the many creative industries out there. 

While we believe that building can be experienced purely for joy and play, the focus of the workshop was to encourage young creatives to consider how structures might be used for activism and how we can use our built environment to make noise about an important cause. 

Dotted across the sprawling collection of repurposed boxes, which have already lived many lives and been used at different temporary events, were step-by-step guides on how to build various box formations. Visitors were offered these different templates as prompts, alongside free building and play, to create real protest structure configurations out of U-Build boxes. These blueprints were originally handed out to Extinction Rebellion activists in Trafalgar Square back in 2019 to create roadblock structures. Head over to the V&A’s online collection if you want to know more about our single modular box or roadblock concept designs.

Throughout the day we had visitors from diverse backgrounds, including university students, international students, children and their families, researchers, tourists and general enthusiasts who we supported and watched transform the paper designs into 3D creations, often adding their own flair and creativity. A very fun day! 

Find out more about the 2026 Upstart Festival or our Build for Activism workshop on the V&A website.

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