Sparks Bristol marks second anniversary with weekend of free events and fundraiser to celebrate young sustainability heroes

Bristol’s unique and sustainable department store, Sparks Bristol, is inviting the public to join a special two-day celebration marking its second anniversary. Taking place on Friday 9 and Saturday 10 May, the free programme includes a host of free to attend entertainment and activities for families, all hosted within the repurposed former M&S building in Broadmead.

The anniversary weekend is being produced by Artspace Lifespace and Global Goals Centre, the charities behind the city centre venue. Since launching in 2023, Sparks has welcomed almost 950,000 visitors and diverted more than 18,000 items away from landfill. The centre has become a space for climate education, creativity and community collaboration, offering an evolving mix of exhibitions, sustainable shopping and cultural events.

Open to the public, Friday 9th May’s No Place Like Home event will open with a powerful panel discussion exploring the role of Indigenous knowledge and the arts in driving global climate action. Visiting speakers from Aotearoa New Zealand include Dr Tia Reihana, Piripi Morunga (Ngāpuhi), Bristol-based community organiser and researcher Cleo Lake and Sparks resident artist MoYah. The event will conclude with a performance by Kabbo Hue Ferdinand, an Indigenous Afrikan storyteller known for blending movement, music and activism. Doors open at 6pm and booking is required: https://hdfst.uk/e128124. 

Saturday 10th May will offer a full day of drop-in activities for all ages from 11am to 6pm. Visitors can expect family-friendly art workshops, walkabout performances and interactive games exploring climate themes, as well as the chance to meet Sparks’ team of volunteers, the Sparklers. A highlight of the day will be the free Fair & Fabulous Afternoon Tea (1:30–3pm), serving ethically-sourced treats in the upstairs café. 

As Sparks enters its third year, the team is looking to the future with a new fundraising campaign. The Global Goals Centre, which co-founded Sparks, has delivered climate education workshops to over 900 children and young people in the past year alone. The fundraiser, running from today (Tuesday 22nd April) until Tuesday 29th April, will support this work into the future, championing young sustainability heroes for the next year. Thanks to Green Match and OVO Foundation, all donations during this period will be doubled. To donate, head to this website here.

Kathryn Chiswell Jones, Company Manager at Artspace Lifespace, said: “Sparks has become a living, breathing demonstration of what’s possible when creativity and sustainability come together. Our anniversary weekend will be a celebration of all we’ve achieved, and an open invitation for Bristolians to shape what comes next.”