CBC top picks of 2020
We know 2020 has been a tough and challenging year but it has also been a time of intense creativity for many. CBC’s Marketing & Content Manager, Kerry, asked the team to share their favourite projects that they worked on during the pandemic and here is what they said:
The Fizzog’s unique Black Country take on Fairytales
Gavin Medza - CBC’s Project Administrator for Dudley
Black Country Deaf Stories. This project was delivered by Deaf stand-up comedian and theatre maker, Rinkoo Barpaga between July-Sept 2020. The artist gathered a collection of Deaf people's stories, jokes about COVID-19 lockdown and being Deaf in the Black Country to form a series of videos to reduce feelings of isolation through building connections across hidden pockets of Deaf people in the Black Country. I found the different stories and experiences of lockdown to be very insightful as they offered a new perspective.
Play in a Day by the Fizzog Community Trust. This project ran between May-Sept 2020 and worked with families and couples to create a short video version of well-known fairytale from their homes. Having worked in theatre in education for a number of years prior, I was really impressed with how they were able to develop an engaging and participatory experience online.
20x20 Dudley Presentations. Held throughout August, these were a series of free online inspirational talks that featured creatives working in the local area sharing their insights, skills and secrets of their craft, practise, artistry and experiences. I enjoyed finding out more about the different speakers and the creative projects they have worked on or our developing in the Black Country. See the videos here.
Youth Lab live illustration by Dan Griffin-Hayes
Liam Smyth - Creative Producer
Youth Lab Wolverhampton. Youth Lab activity really picked up at the height of lockdown. Building a strong and successful cross-sector partnership with the University and the Council really benefited the project. All of us took part in regular international network meetings that helped us make sense of the new challenges we were facing by exchanging with colleagues in Greece, France and Germany.
Working with Wolverhampton’s Youth Council. Still related to Youth Lab but deserving a point of its very own, I've really enjoyed working with Wolverhampton's Youth Council. The young people speak very passionately about their city and are an incredible asset to the Black Country. At a time when there's been very little to look forward to, they've given me a lot of optimism that the next generation will inject some much needed passion, care and commitment into our future.
Student Internship. Along similar lines, we welcomed Rachel, a student from University of Birmingham to intern with us over the Summer/Autumn. She brought a fresh perspective to the team and supported our second series of 20x20s. If you haven't seen our 20x20 online talks yet, don't worry! You can catch up with them all on the CBC Facebook page.
Image by Dee Patel
Yvonne Gregory - Fundraising Manager
Spirit of 2012. As a new member of the CBC team, joining in first lockdown, I jumped straight into being involved with a large funding application to Spirit of 2012 (in collaboration with Birmingham 2020) It was a fantastic feeling to hear that we were successful and the 'Shine a Light' project could begin, working with D/deaf and disabled communities across the region towards performances and films for the 2022 Cultural Festival.
The Black Country Funding Network for Arts & Culture. Support from 'Arts Fundraising and Philanthropy' allowed me the pleasure of creating a new funding network for artists and arts organisations across the Black Country, connecting with fellow fundraisers and supporting each other through what has been a challenging year.
20x20. I have really enjoyed tuning in to the CBC 20x20 sessions and hearing from all the wonderful creatives and their work. Without being able to get out and see work in person it has given me some valuable insight about the amount of creativity we have here in the Black Country
The Red Cow in Smethwick - the sign was commissioned by Creative Black Country for the Desi Pubs project
Sajida Carr - Director of Operations and Development
Developing the new CBC principles. During the year, the opportunity to work with Wolverhampton for Everyone came up and it was a fantastic experience. CBC asked if they could support us with developing CBC’s principles. I learnt a lot from the process; developing principles and counter principles as well ensuring that the language spoke to everyone. This was a great moment of making the most of the expertise in the Black Country.
Rough guide to CBC - in a 'Desi Pub'. An event in a pub! Who would think that! As an action research learning programme, CBC ran a national learning session at the Red Cow Pub in Smethwick, more lovingly known as a Desi Pub. The event was aimed at Creative People and Places Programme groups and cosrtiums as well as those who were considering an application to Arts Council to become a CPP programme. Local and national voices were heard and artist Dean Melbourne ran a visual mapping session. I loved how there was so much connectivity in the room from across the country in Smethwick. And i’m pretty sure this was the last opportunity for everyone to catch up face to face before lockdown!
Speaking from the heart. This year there were a number of public speaking engagements linked to CBC which were a privilege to be part of. The one that stayed with me (The Art of Aging Artfully - MAC) was when I spoke from the heart and talked about how I wish I’d taken my mum to see the Maharaja Exhibition to the V & A years ago. It’s always lovely when people talk to you afterwards, however on this occasion, ALOT of people came up to me afterwards who really appreciated the power of speaking from the heart.
Beautiful sun prints produced by families all over the Black Country
Rosalind Argo - CBC Project Administrator
Sun Prints. One of my favourite Creative Connections projects from 2020 was the CBC Sun Prints by Caitriona Dunnett, that saw families in the Black Country create their own sun print pictures, using the earliest forms of photography. It was wonderful to see the imaginative pictures the participants created which were exhibited on the project’s Instagram account (my favourite is 'Bicycle in the Woods' posted on 20 August 2020).
Events at Black Country Business Festival. It was great to work with Zoe Partington, Jill Brown and my CBC colleague Yvonne Gregory to create and deliver events as part of this year’s Black Country Business Festival. Our Digitising Disability, Let’s Create and The Black Country Funding Network for Arts and Culture events sold out and hopefully all the attendees took away information and advice that would help inform and shape their future practice, processes and work.
Online get togethers. I’ve enjoyed organising and hosting this year’s Creative Connections and Creative Communities Get-Togethers. It’s been lovely meeting the individuals who’ve been determined to bring creative fun and joy to communities across the Black Country (and online) this year and hearing more about their projects. It was brilliant to finish this year on a high, with a Creative Communities Winter Get-Together and find out more about what exciting creative activity is coming to the Black Country in 2021.
Listen and You Will Smile - positive messages lined the street during lockdown 1.0 in Stourbridge
Kerry O’Coy - Marketing & Content Manager
Bostin News. I loved working on Bostin News - it was great to be in a position to commission 4 content editors and to give them the opportunity to commission work themselves. The element of surprise was great - I loved the different approaches that everyone had to the role and how they see creativity.
Corridor of Colour. During lockdown it was a real pleasure to get out for my hour walk in Stourbridge and to see the outdoor bunting 'Corridor of Colour' gallery by Luke Perry and his neighbours which was one of our Creative Connections commissions. We even got a piece on BBC Midlands Today and I made a little video of it which you can see here.
Fred Jeffs Sweetshop Murders Podcast. As part of CBC’s partnership we enjoy supporting projects by our friends over at Black Country Touring. Theatre and performance has has been hit really hard this year but the ever-resourceful team have produced some great socially-distanced performance during 2020. From ‘Dial-A-Story’ where you could phone in to listen to a performance to a real-life murder mystery podcast BCT have kept us entertained throughout. You can hear all the podcasts here.
Parminder Dosanjh - Creative Director
Creative Connections. As lockdown began to feel like 'knockdown', I found the Creative Connections Commissions sun prints uplifting and drawing me to nature.
Def Morion. I loved keeping moving with Billy Reid dance films, especially when things felt very still.
Spirit of 2012. Kick-starting a new project with brilliant partners keeps up the 'spirit', can't wait to get stuck in with support from Spirit 2012 and Birmingham 2022.