Get creative for the Commonwealth Games
BLACK Country residents are being invited to get involved in a Summer of Creativity with new projects that are being supported as part of multiple collaborations between Creative Black Country, Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council and Colab Dudley alongside creative organisations and artists from across the region.
The projects range from crafting in and around the subways of Stourbridge, creative workshops to launch the public opening of Riverside House during the International Festival of Glass, puppet making and processions at Priory Park, adventure storytelling at local libraries, nature-inspired flag making and folk singing along canals, as well as poetry sessions, creative walking tours, photography and performance popping up at outdoor spaces.
Each project has been co-designed with local communities, groups and organisations, and welcomes residents to join in and have a go at something new.
One of the producers for the Summer of Creativity, Kerry O’coy said:
“We were delighted by the response from people who submitted ideas to our call-out earlier this year for projects to take place over the summer that would coincide with the Commonwealth Games.
“We asked communities to think about what they wanted to see in the areas they live, and what kind of creative projects they wanted to take part in.
“There was a great response and we have some wonderfully quirky and unique things coming up so we hope people will get involved and join in.”
A portrait and video project, by artists David Rowan and Joseph Potts, has been underway at Halesowen’s Cornbow Centre and will conclude in an exhibition and film that features local residents.
Meanwhile artist Gavin Rogers is seeking participants for a project aimed at the LGBTQ+ community that involves singing, dancing and performance in the Netherton canal tunnel.
There will be an exciting new large-scale floating sculpture coming to the area during August.
The impressive ‘Walsall Water
Argonaut’ has been designed with local disabled people who were led by internationally renowned artist Jason Wilshermills.
The bright and bold sculpture will float on the Walsall Arboretum Lake before heading to the wharf canal basin in the town centre adjacent to New Art Gallery Walsall.
The piece illustrates the stories of local people and the barriers they face as a result of their disability and has been supported by Arts Council England in collaboration with Walsall Council Healthy Spaces, Canal & River Trust, The New Art Gallery Walsall and Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022.