GET INSPIRED - Creative Communities support has relaunched for 2024
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.
We wanted to share with you some previous projects to inspire your ideas! However, it’s important that you choose something that is relevant to your community and the people who want to take part! Our Creative Advisers can help…
Walsall
Project name: Wild Canvas
Group: Reach for a Star C.I.C.
Dates: October & November 2023
Location: Cannock Chase & George Rose Park Lodge
The Wild Canvas project aimed to bring families together to strengthen their relationships through shared activities which focused on nature and art. The first part of this was a group visit to Cannock Chase for a hiking experience. Families met in Darlaston and transport was provided to take them to and from the Chase. This trip aimed to foster family connections, ignite creativity, and nurture love for nature, while also promoting outdoor exploration and physical activity.
“Some participants told us they would not be able to visit Cannock Chase without this type of project due to lack of transport.” [Reach for a Star C.I.C]
The second part of the project invited the families to use their experiences of the trip and keepsakes gathered in Cannock Chase to produce something creative to be displayed in an exhibition in January 2024 in Darlaston Library.
“The event was really good. It provided us with the opportunity to spend time as a family and create beautiful art.” [Wild Canvas Participant]
Dudley
Project name: ‘Go & See’ to Black Country Living Museum
Group: Women’s Discovery Group (Top Church Training)
Dates: September 2023
Location: Black Country Living Museum
The Women’s Discovery Group hosted by Top Church Training meet every Wednesday at Harry’s Café in Brierley Hill. They applied to Creative Communities for a ‘Go & See’ to the Black Country Living Museum (BCLM). CBC’s support enabled them to visit in September and the group members enjoyed taking photos and telling each other stories. The group loves history and because they were brought up in the Black Country, they felt that it was nice to see the historic buildings at BCLM.
The ‘Go & See’ fed into the Women’s Discovery Group’s Heritage Day Event on Saturday 16th September. The public were invited to join them at Harry’s Café and to make a card with the heritage photos taken on the day.
“Very enjoyable day…The venue was accessible to all that attended, and I got plenty out of my time at the venue. I hope that there will be other events in the pipeline. Many thanks for supporting the group.” [Women’s Discovery Group member]
Dudley
Project name: Artist in the Park (pictured at the top of the page)
Group: Friends of Wordsley Parks
Dates: October 2023
Location: King George IV Park, Wordsley
Support from CBC as part of the Creative Communities project allowed the Friends of Wordsley Parks to run a community arts session and painting lesson with midlands-based multimedia artist Cal. The focus of the art session was for members of the public to work with the artist to re-paint the Wordsley Park shelter but the group took the opportunity to plan a day of activities for free for park users.
These activities included a community litter pick, a ceramic tile designing workshop, and pumpkin carving. Friends of Wordsley Parks were very pleased with how the event went and said that around forty people attended and that these were mostly families who “were thankful there was an activity on in the local area.”
“The artist was kind, thoughtful, patient and helpful, brilliant event and my grandchildren have their art for many years to come.” [Event attendee]
Sandwell
Project name: Art Works for Wellbeing
Group: Dorothy Parkes Centre
Dates: September 2023
Location: Barber Institute of Fine Arts & Dorothy Parkes Centre
The aim of this project was to provide members of the art group at the Dorothy Parkes Centre in Smethwick with the opportunity to go off-site for a ‘Go & See’ to the Barber Institute of Fine Arts in Birmingham. This allowed the art group members to explore culture and spend time in inspiring spaces in order to create a memorable experience and to give them the confidence to go to other venues and experience other artworks.
“We are so happy that we were able to apply for the seed money and felt really supported [by the Creative Advisor] when discussing initial ideas. This gave us the confidence to apply and we now feel more confident in going for future funding.” [Feedback from organisers]
Following the ‘Go & See’, the participants took part in a creative workshop led by a local artist to explore how sensory materials such as clay, yarn and paper-based activities could enhance health and wellbeing. This project was about encouraging creativity but also about allowing participants to socialise in a different space and to experience new things.
“Loved it - I love art and crafts, it is nice to be shown different items. I had never worked with art clay before.” [Participant feedback card]
Wolverhampton
Project name: Sparkle and Light
Group: LGBT Sparkle Social Group
Dates: September and October 2023
Location: Wildside Activity Centre
LGBT Sparkle Social Group ran two sessions at Wildside Activity Centre in Wolverhampton. At these workshops participants came together to make glass jar flower lantern and picture frames from recycled materials. The aim was to give participants access to creative activities but also to encourage people to come together and to share their experiences to improve mental health and wellbeing. From the feedback it was clear that the participants felt supported and liked meeting new people.
“Enjoyed meeting others from different backgrounds and abilities. New faces. Love being at Wildside.” [Participant feedback card]
It was important to the group that everyone was made to feel welcome and so they used some of the seed money to provide food and one person even baked cakes for them to share. Running these sessions gave the group the opportunity to increase their confidence in delivering arts and crafts sessions and in working with partners and different venues.
“The workshops have made us realise we could run some sessions ourselves. We feel more confident, never knew I could do that and now realise it's quite easy. It helps with mental health and wellbeing and you can get lost in your own world enjoying yourself. That's empowering to realise we can do it ourselves”. [Feedback from organisers]