Thanks to support from CBC’s MORE TO EXPLORE strand Megan Wakefield is offering a free course from September 2024 where participants will be invited to use art, writing or other media to build up a unique creative journal.

CBC’s initiative to boost fundraising for arts and culture activities in the region is back for a 3rd year.

After a 12-month project focused on regenerating a forgotten area of Wolverhampton using multiple arts interventions including; light, sound, sculpture, murals, AR, and a community garden, Asylum Art Gallery are ready to unveil the final artist’s work in the Chapel Ash island underpass.

Head down to the Mela Arts Village to catch Autin Dance’s The Giant Wheel, an exciting high-energy performance, and walk about stilt acts and puppetry with Jack in the Box.

Calling on artists who are interested in collaborating with residents to make great creative experiences happen in Walsall.   

Do you have a love-hate relationship with data? Does collecting, storing and using it effectively seem like an impossible job? Join Vishalakshi Roy, Director of research led agency Earthen Lamp for a discussion about effective use of your data to ensure that everyone feels able to love their own data and make best use of it.

Making the most of… supporting volunteering opportunities for the D/deaf community. In 2022, CBC received funding from Arts Council England after a successful funding bid made through Culture Central to set up the Culture Volunteers WM project.

Making the most of… participatory opportunities for communities. Curl Girl Theatre Productions is a small, Birmingham-based theatre company, established in 2023 by Kiren Jogi, a professional actress, writer and creative practitioner.

Making the most of… international partnerships and connections. Launched in 2021, Cultural Bridge is a national programme which aims to forge international partnerships and foster creative collaborations between the UK and Germany.

Making in the most of… creativity and performance at MELA. Birmingham MELA (also known as Sandwell and Birmingham MELA), established in 2011, is the “biggest South Asian music festival” of its kind across the UK and Europe.

Making the most of… exploring the Black Country. As part of the Creative Communities programme, Creative Black Country (CBC) provides support for groups of people to engage with cultural activities that they might have no previous experience with.

Culture Volunteers WM was a pilot project that set out to provide more opportunities for people to volunteer in the arts, creative and cultural sector.

Transplanting snowdrops. Just one of the things our D/deaf volunteers did at Wightwick Manor today

LAUNCHED THIS WEEK: More to Explore micro-commissions exploring and delivering creative ideas in the Black Country. 

This month we have relaunched our Creative Communities strand of support where communities are invited to try out something new; for example craft skills, setting up a choir, or starting a garden gallery with your neighbours. You can also use the support to ‘go and see’ something like a theatre show or visit a museum or gallery.

Filming begins on the BSL videos for the Stourbridge Glass Museum website

Can you help us tell our story? The Creative Black Country team are looking for talented creative documenters (this includes, photographers, filmmakers, animators and illustrators, designers) to help tell our story in 2024 and 2025. 

Creative Black Country’s Fundraising Fellowship Scheme cohort, a vibrant assembly of artists and arts organisations based across Dudley, Walsall, Wolverhampton and Sandwell boroughs.

We're giving you a WHOLE 365 days to get your party outfit ready as Creative Black Country celebrates 10 years of co-creating with communities, artists and creatives across the Black Country!