6 months in to 2021 - what a strange start
How many of us would have guessed we’d still be in semi-lockdown so far in to 2021? The last 18 months have been a really strange time for CBC but, like everyone else, we’ve adapted and changed things so that we can continue our work in this new world.
For much of our work we would usually rely on convening people, putting on events, hosting workshops - generally organising projects that involve getting people to come out and see work happen and take shape.
While this has been impossible to do face-to-face we have been doing lots of planning and hosting events online. So while restrictions begin to lift (and we tentatively get used to the idea that we might be able to get people together) we thought we’d do a little round up of some of what we have coming up over the next 6 months.
DUDLEY CREATES - a year of creative projects across the Borough
Ads for Dudley - a workshop by Sarah Taylor Silverwood
Associate producers Laura and Kerry hosted a mini series of creative workshops in May taking in different art forms and practices to get a sense of the kind of things people might be interested in taking part in later in the year.
What to look out for: Crafting Dudley with the Dudley People’s Archive - an intergenerational project that takes photos from the archive and project ‘Growing Up in Dudley’ and uses them to embroider a quilt.
How to get involved: Look out for social media posts and info on when the workshops will be starting. Follow the archive here.
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What to look out for: Black Country Collage Club - meeting once a month an increasing group of keen collagers have been getting together to produce new pieces of work uses Dudley as inspiration.
How to get involved: The team are hosting free workshops as part of the upcoming Do Fest event on Dudley High Street during Friday 30th and Saturday 31st July. You will also be able to see an exhibition of work the group have produced so far.
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What to look out for: Time Rebels of Dudley - working alongside CoLab Dudley we have been supporting their Time Rebels - 33 intrepid explorers who are gazing in to the future to help people reimagine the Dudley of tomorrow.
How to get involved: You can join some of the Time Rebels as they develop and co-create their projects with people across Dudley including A More Than Human High Street and Dudley Afro Histories. Join them at Do Fest to see what they get up to.
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What else is coming up? As ideas develop from the May workshops Kerry + Laura are helping to produce communities-led projects with/by people. So far this include projects in Stourbridge, Brierley Hill and Halesowen, with more to come.
YOUTH LAB WOLVERHAMPTON
The key issues that came out of our initial Youth Lab research
Back in 2020 we asked young people of Wolverhampton the key things they’d like to see that could help shape and reimagine new ideas or improvements for the city. We are continuing this research by working with our friends at Curiosity Productions and their new Kick Starter team.
What to look out for: The Kick Starters are aged 18-24 and ideally placed to connect and communicate with other young people in the city. We’ve given them the task to produce several co-designed lo-fi activations that will help young people’s visions come to life.
How to get involved: Invitations and events will take place during the Summer months and we’ll share more as soon as they take shape.
OFFSITE 9 - Wolverhampton
The delayed, but very welcome, British Art Show 9 arrives in Wolverhampton in January 2022 and CBC has received funding via Arts Council England to host a city-produced element to the exhibition.
What to look out for: We’ll be working with a group of creatives to design a programme of events that begin to take shape from July onwards. They include commissions, provocations, publications and podcasts.
How to get involved: Several artist commissions are now live - you can apply for up to £250 with Asylum Art Gallery or up to £4000 with Creative Black Country.
SPARKS - Black Country Wide
What to look out for: Our project, in collaboration with Birmingham 2022 and supported by Spirit of 2012 and Arts Council of England, alongside 5 other dynamic organisations is now underway with a series of accessible live taster activity sessions and workshops around poetry, performance and storytelling.
How to get involved: From these workshops a series of co-designed events will start to take shape from September onwards.
Artist Karen Garland joined CBC for the Walsall 20 x 20 online events to talk about her stunning illustrations and textiles
20x20 Wolverhampton + Sandwell
We had so much fun organising the inspiring 20x20 programme of fast-paced talks last year that we are doing it again. This time around we’re inviting creatives in Wolverhampton and Sandwell to join us for quick-fire talks where people get just 20 seconds to talk through each of the 20 slides to share details about their work.
The online events will take place during September and October.
You can see a few of the previous 20x20 videos with Dudley and Walsall creatives on our FACEBOOK page and YOUTUBE channel.
Bringing a touch of ‘Funny Things’ to the Business Festival in 2019
CBC at Black Country Business Festival
Black Country Business Festival takes place 4 to 15 October 2021 and Creative Black Country will be delivering events that look at a wide range of topics including making marketing accessible for wider audiences, hearing a group’s experience as first-time Arts Council England grants applicants and taking a closer look and practical tips on using Grantium (Arts Council England’s application portal).
Alongside the Black Country Black Country Funding Network you’ll expect to get help with:
Making your application to the Arts Council’; including top tips about the application process and ‘how to’ guide.
1:2:1 surgeries for first-time applicants and groups/artists from under-represented groups on completing an Arts Council application.
Corporate Support and CSR ‘getting started’ session; that includes tips for creative sector.
These events will go live soon.
The Blue Ladies on hand to chat to people
Creative Communities - Black Country wide
Our Creative advisors are on hand throughout the year to help you with your creative projects. Whether you want to chat through an idea, develop something with your local community of a group of people, or need advice on next steps and getting something started you can speak to the dedicated advisor for your area.