Creative Black Country and The Space Partnership to support Black Country Creatives

'Local People Have More of a Say'. Offsite 9 Commission by 'Imagine Wolves' by Leanne O'Connor and Ewan Johnston. Photo by Dee Patel.

A partnership expanding great digital storytelling in the Black Country

Creative Black Country and The Space have announced a unique partnership that is designed to offer a range of creative development support to artists across the Black Country.

Speaking at the Digital Culture Talks 2023 at the university of Wolverhampton, Fiona Morris, CEO and Creative Director at The Space, and Parminder Donsanjh, Creative Director at Creative Black Country unveiled plans for the strategic collaboration which will include a programme of creative content and skills development support for individuals from the Black Country region.

Further information on the type of support available will be issued in September when artists, creatives and community members will be invited to submit their ideas for a small-scale digital project. Successful applicants will be supported by a team of professionals to develop their project and bring their stories to life digitally. Workshops and webinars will also take place, encouraging applicants with an idea for a story, a character, or an approach to apply.

Parminder Donsanjh, Creative Director at Creative Black Country said,
“Stories are powerful when told through multiple ways, and the region has old and new narratives to share beyond the Black Country. We are looking forward o exploring how we extend great storytelling onto digital platforms.”

Fiona Morris CEO and Creative Director at The Space said,
“Creative Black Country does such great work across Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton and we’re both excited and delighted to be working with them. The collaboration will help open up new ways for people and communities to access, participate in and share their voices and experiences digitally.”

The two organisations have previously collaborated on 100 Masters – a digital project that celebrates contemporary creative citizens and craftspeople to inspire the pioneers of tomorrow. The series of short videos created as part of the project achieved over 10 million views online and the work went on to win a European Youth Award.

For The Space, the partnership forms part of a programme designed to identify new talent and provide mentoring, commissions, production and distribution support to artists in Dudley, Walsall, Wolverhampton and Sandwell.

More information regarding the initiative will be shared during September 2023.