Creative Communities special series - PART 04: SANDWELL
This is the final special Creative Communities blog post highlighting a group in Sandwell that have produced some beautiful work with their local community.
Project name: The Roots Project
Group: MILA CIC
Dates: Still Active
Location: Sandwell
MILA CIC was created to support Ukrainian refugees and their children in Sandwell. They have already undertaken a number of community projects that aim to connect people. With the support of Rich, the CBC Creative Advisor for Sandwell, MILA CIC were successful in being gifted seed money via Creative Communities for their new activity The Roots Project. This wonderful, ongoing project seeks to prevent isolation and to promote cultures and languages of diverse communities.
The project delivers multiple art-based community activities where participants have an opportunity to learn, explore and make new connections. The project will run for several months and will include 4 different activities with a total engagement of over 15 families. Activities include art and craft sessions, an outdoor community gathering session, an educational trip for families with children aged 2-7 and an educational trip for families with children aged 8-16.
The Roots Project also provides a creative platform for the Ukrainian artists from within the refugee community, enabling them to share their knowledge and experience. They will also have the opportunity to exhibit their art work at our community events.
CBCs Creative Advisor for Sandwell who continues to support the project said:
“The Roots Project, was a great way to help Ukranian refugee families to connect with others, make new friends and help settle into the community. I believe the success of the project was due to a strong ethos of collaboration between MILA CIC and the families they work with, ensuring that those who took part really enjoyed the creative activities, learnt new skills and felt more connected to the Black Country.”
If you feel inspired by what you have read or heard and have an idea (or seeds of an idea) for a co-created project in your community get in touch with the Creative Adviser in your area.
Dudley - Laura@creativeblackcountry.co.uk
Sandwell - Richard@creativeblackcountry.co.uk
Walsall - Richard@creativeblackcountry.co.uk
Wolverhampton - Nelson@creativeblackcountry.co.uk