Black Country residents are being invited to get involved in a Summer of Creativity with new projects that are being supported as part of multiple collaborations between Creative Black Country, Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council and CoLab Dudley alongside creative organisations and artists from across the region.

The projects range from crafting in and around the subways of Stourbridge, creative workshops to launch the public opening of Riverside House during the International Festival of Glass, puppet making and processions at Priory Park, adventure storytelling at local Libraries, nature-inspired flag making and folk singing along canals, as well as poetry sessions, creative walking tours, photography and performance popping up at outdoor spaces.

Each project has been co-designed with local communities, groups and organisations, and welcomes residents to join in and have a go at something new.

One of the producers for the Summer of Creativity, Kerry O’Coy said:

“We were delighted by the response from people who submitted ideas to our call-out earlier this year for projects to take place over the summer that would coincide with the Commonwealth Games. We asked communities to think about what they wanted to see in the areas they live, and what kind of creative projects they wanted to take part in. There was a great response and we have some wonderfully quirky and unique things coming up so we hope people will get involved and join in.”

A portrait and video project, by artists David Rowan and Joseph Potts, has been underway at Halesowen’s Cornbow Centre and will conclude in an exhibition and film that features local residents. Meanwhile artist Gavin Rogers is seeking participants for a project aimed at the LGBTQ+ community that involves singing, dancing and performance in the Netherton canal tunnel.

There will be an exciting new large-scale floating sculpture coming to the area during August. The impressive ‘Walsall Water Argonaut’ has been designed with local disabled people who were led by internationally renowned artist Jason Wilsher-Mills. The bright and bold sculpture will float on the Walsall Arboretum Lake before heading to the wharf canal basin in the town centre adjacent to New Art Gallery Walsall. The piece illustrates the stories of local people and the barriers they face as a result of their disability and has been supported by Arts Council England in collaboration with Walsall Council Healthy Spaces, Canal & River Trust, The New Art Gallery Walsall and Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022.

Creative Black Country is also supporting Surfing Light Beams and Crossover Labs with their immersive ‘Time Travel Tram’ project which will transport passengers back in time with images, videos and poetry between the Birmingham City Centre and Wolverhampton Metro route.

Ten years of Visual Vernacular (VV) performance will be celebrated with D/deaf artist Ishtiaq Hussain where his performance films, directed by Jack Smallwood, will invite people to experience a world of VV with powerful storytelling using sign language and body movement. The short films, exploring themes linked to commonwealth, will be screened online and at B2022 live sites across Birmingham and Dudley.

Collective Spectra will be inviting audiences to experience Abundance - a play space for all, created as part of the Birmingham 2022 Festival. Far from a typical playground, people of all-ages will get to step inside a world rich in colour, flavour, scent and texture where they can move, create, grow and play. Abundance is a collaboration, where artists, growers and makers will work alongside local communities to create a truly magical environment. The project starts on the 25th June until 3rd September and is part of the Birmingham 2022 Festival and is supported by Creative Black Country, and Your Trust Charity, in partnership with Sandwell West Birmingham NHS Trust.

The projects come at a time when Arts Council England celebrates 10 years of the Creative People and Places network with a campaign called #CreateYourPlace. Creative Director of CBC Parminder Dosanjh said:

“Creative Black Country is now into its seventh year and we always strive to encourage people to have a say on the type of creative and artistic projects they want to see in the places where they live. CBC exists to inspire and encourage people to get involved in something new, and support people to organise projects for their own communities. Taking part in creative activities is a great way to meet people, gain confidence and can also help with mental wellbeing. We hope that these projects will inspire others, leading to a legacy of more projects to come.”

With the help of CoLab Dudley, the Summer of Creativity activities will help all those involved research and inform a creative and culture strategy for the Dudley borough, with the aim of better connecting creatives and communities to imagine a future that supports their ideas.

More community-led projects will be commissioned during the summer months. You can find out more at https://www.creativeblackcountry.co.uk/summer-of-creativity and also on our EVENTS page.

For any further information please contact kerry@creativeblackcountry.co.uk