Yam Cams is a new photography project, that launched this month, which aims to inspire people to photograph everyday life in the four Black Country boroughs: Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton.

The aim of Walking Through Waterways History, is to involve the local community in gathering material for an audio trail celebrating the Dudley No 2 Canal between Windmill End Junction and Hawne Basin, an area once lined with industry, including the once huge Stewarts & Lloyds where over 2000 people worked. Can you help?

Connect Dudley Online Exhibition Launch, 7.30pm on Wed 24 February. An evening of poetry responding to letters written in lockdown by local people. An invitation from local poet and CoLab Dudley Time Rebel, Rick Sanders.

Luke Perry’s Corridor of Colour was a beautiful outdoor gallery of bunting made by Luke, with the help of his neighbours, that lined his street and the High Street in Wollaston.

It’s strange to think back to the start of the year when our main concerns were which venues could we host community engagement events and when best to schedule them for maximum take-up (remember those days before the words ’social distancing’ became part of our everyday vocabulary).

Hannah Taylor has been producing the Fragments Archive - a project that looks at the impact shielding has been having on members of the public from the Black Country and how they are responding to it.

Turning Points (who we were, who we are, who we will be) is a new creative project. Working with participants across the Black Country regions, Laura Dicken will remotely record personal reflections on subjects such as happiest memories in the Black Country, what we have to be proud of as we collectively navigate the present moment and aspirations for the future.

Poster Positivity is designed to increase unity and wellbeing in Sandwell by sharing images of hope and happiness around the community. The project is run by Foka Wolf, a satirical artist who uses posters in his work to tackle serious issues with humour.

Deaf stand-up comedian and theatremaker, Rinkoo Barpaga, focuses on his intersectionality as a Deaf brown man and the double discrimination Deaf people of colour face. For this project he will be retelling the stories of the Deaf community during lockdown.

Young Sketch Bookers is a new project that will be taking place July to September 2020. The team’s aim is to supply art materials to children during and after the Covid-19 lockdown. And they are looking for artists to offer inspiration to those receiving the packs.

Luke Perry’s Corridor of Colour is now LIVE to see in Stourbridge. It’s a beautiful outdoor gallery of bunting made by Luke with the help of his neighbours that lines his street and the High Street in Wollaston.

Hannah Taylor’s Fragments Archive commission has been underway for several weeks. Her project explores how memory shapes our understanding of information and the disparity between oral histories and digital archives.

Milcote Assembled is a project focusing on making connections on one road in Bearwood. This road is Milcote Road. The project aims to get people to connect with one another through a series of small ‘operations’ over the course of a few weeks. This will be done through anonymous communications.

LearnPlay Foundation launched a hub tasking the local community to design their own fantasy characters.

Sarah brings the joy of group drumming and sound relaxation to people across the UK. Playing drums is uplifting, stimulating for mind and body, and a wonderful way to connect with others.

Finn is a Deafblind visual artist currently working on mixing digital art with Haptic technology to create the sensation of touch to augment 3D animation.

Creative Black Country have supported 20 new projects that respond to creativity during the Covid-19 pandemic. Over £30,000 of commissions has been handed to projects across the Black Country to help communities stay creative, learn new skills, and keep connected.

Saz’s Ceramics & Crafts is a successful studio in the heart of the Black Country. Since the lockdown began, the studio has been closed so they have developed Rainbow kits, suitable for adults and children and delivered to particpant’s doors.

MotherShip is an arts organisation that connects communities through culture and creativity. Championing women, particularly mothers and those who are newly arrived.

Billy is a Deaf performing artist who specialises in Hip Hop theatre and street dance. With Ariel Fung, a deaf dancer from Hong Kong, Billy will be creating a series of street dance tutorial videos on YouTube in BSL, for Deaf kids to enjoy, and gain inspiration from, and learn new skills, during lockdown.