Creative Connections 2023 - the commissioned projects
The Creative Connections programme supports activities that increase opportunities for people to experience great creative and cultural experiences in Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton, by bringing individuals together to share new experiences around the arts. This round of projects have been chosen and are getting underway.
Below is a summary of the successfully commissioned projects which were chosen by an independent panel of people from across the Black Country.
WALSALL
Mindful Mosaics with Rachel Hawkins - This is a project for an elderly residential community so that they can come together to experience the process of designing, making and completing a mosaic.
Stories of the Trees with Friends of Willenhall Memorial Park - ‘Stories of the Trees – if only trees could talk’ will help celebrate 100 years of Willenhall Memorial Park. The project will work in collaboration with artists, musicians, writers, and performers, supported by other voluntary organisations to bring local communities together in a 100 years Celebration Day on the 16th July which will include art, music, song, poetry and spoken word.
Creativity Is Good For You with Heidi Summersby - This project will be a new initiative, growing from a creative crafts group which started in The Table community coffee shop in Walsall. Artist Heidi Summersby will facilitate a number of workshops that invite other artists to collaborate so that communities can try different artistic and creative practices including painting, music, sewing, clay making and creative journalling.
WOLVERHAMPTON
Aero-Breaks with Break Mission - Aero-Breaks is a programme of creative athletic activity for young people in Wolverhampton, aiming to teach new skills and improve fitness and confidence through breaking [breakdance]. These workshops particularly aim to support young people from LGBTQ+ communities, a culturally underrepresented group in the Hip-Hop community. Break Mission will deliver a 6-week series of workshops teaching groups of 14–18-year-olds leading to a showcase where participants are empowered to show off what they’ve learned.
Apni Prithvi – Apna Kal’ (Our Planet – Our Future) with Punjabi Women’s Writing Group - ‘Apni Prithvi - Apna Kal’ (Our Planet – Our Future) will concentrate on the environment issues in our homes, at a domestic level. The group will invite the Punjabi and ethnic diverse communities from around the Black Country by carrying out writing workshops with the opportunity to get work published in an anthology and a performance in their hometown. The Punjabi Women’s Writing Group will provide fun writing, reading and conversational workshops to give more awareness on the environmental impact and provide guidance on how people might change their behaviour to give back to the planet.
Artism with Kathleen Fabre - Artist Kathleen Fabre will deliver an artist-led programme of creative activities designed to engage the adult autistic/ neuro-divergent community in Wolverhampton. The programme will show how visual arts can be a welcoming inclusive environment, open to all ages and abilities, and how we can connect with arts and culture in various ways to enrich our lives and improve our well-being.
Issa Print & Pose Project with Kupid Val-Essoné - PRINT N POSE is a four part empowerment project for people of all ages living in and around Wolverhampton. The purpose of the workshops is to use creative activities to increase self-esteem and confidence, create an inclusive and social space for people to express themselves freely, have a professional photoshoot, meet like-minded individuals, and discover new connections and opportunities. The project also aims to give people the chance to be a part of an exhibition. Each day will be split into two parts; the morning workshops will aim to build participants' confidence and skill sets, while the afternoons will focus on creating the art for the exhibition. The workshops will take place on the 25 and 26 July with an exhibition on the 29 July.
Get Crafty with Aspiring Futures CIC - Women only, weekly arts and crafts sessions in 3 different locations for people from diverse and disadvantaged communities. Participants will get the opportunity to work with an artist to explore a wide range of topics, tools and techniques to help them learn craft essentials and challenge themselves to learn something new in a warm friendly and inspiring environment. They will learn how to recycle materials and make inspiring and unique thing se.g. gifts for someone special, items for home decoration. An exhibition event will be held at the end to inspire others.
DUDLEY
Arts Connect 2023 with KIDS Orchard Centre - The team will deliver a menu of Arts based activities during the summer term of May to July for Dudley SEND Youth Clubs and young people aged 18-25. This will include Graffiti Art, Animation, Art, Drama, and Music and facilitated by local artists.
SANDWELL
Sensory Story Time with Fantastic Journeys CIC - Children with additional learning and sensory needs will be provided with space to engage with storytelling and music sessions specifically designed to make stories from books accessible to children in a fun and engaging way that centres on their individual needs.
Lets Get Lyrical with Options for Life - Let’s Get Lyrical!’ encourages participants with learning disabilities and/or autism to join six songwriting and one band music session to learn how to write songs, sing, enjoy music and socialise with their peers. The sessions will be held once a month by Jobe Sullivan (musician, songwriter, composer and multi-instrumentalist) and will focus on creating an inclusive and accessible space for all participants.
Black Country: Green Futures with ITZATNA Arts - ‘Black Country: Green Futures’ is a community video art project that explores how local gardeners and allotment owners in Sandwell think and feel about their connection to land and belonging, and the impacts of ongoing climate change. The video will show an intimate portrait of local people’s trans-national journeys and deep connection to their natural environment, caring and tending to their plants and biodiversity of their little pockets of Sandwell.
Unseen Memories with Sandwell Visually Impaired CIO - The activity intends to explore ways to gather audio recordings of participants’ early memories of living with no or limited sight, choosing personal objects and/or photographs relating to their reminiscences. Karren Visser will photograph the participants so that the creative activity and its outcomes provide a timeline of members' lives past and present.
Moving Horizons with Connection Dance - 12 weekly sessions will be co-created with a group of young participants (with a range of access needs) and 2 professional dance artists. Taking place at Coneygre Arts Centre the sessions will culminate in two new performance platforms.
If you are working on creative projects in communities and have a project idea please make sure that you take a look at our Creative Communities opportunities where we can offer support. Take a look at the page here.