In July 2021 I was commissioned by Knowle West Media Centre as a digital storyteller. Since then I’ve been working alongside 4 commissioned artists, 1 additional storyteller and many members of the local community to explore the question, ‘As we move out of lockdowns, how can we create the shared spaces and experiences we need in order to connect and come together?’
The programme was designed to support artists and communities to: develop new skills in ‘hybrid’ arts practices (mixing digital and physical) and co-create new inclusive spaces / experiences for connection and coming together. The programme aims were to explore:
– Inspiring examples of practices that mix digital and physical tools and methods
– The barriers and challenges we face in finding safe hybrid ways to come together
– What more inclusive hybrid tools, spaces and experiences could look like
– What we can make to come together differently and how we can share through hybrid means
Throughout July 2021, we attended workshops exploring how to create more inclusive and accessible ‘hybrid’ spaces that mix the digital and physical. These were incredibly diverse, fun and useful for myself and hopefully everyone else involved.
In response to these workshops and general themes of the project, each of the commissioned artists focused on their own topic to explore either through their own workshops, events or mail-out parcels. These contributions then made up parts of the 4 day weekender event, and I create an illustration to bring attention to each of these days and their general themes. This past week the online booking for the weekender has gone live so each of these illustrations have been shared on social media, and I’m very happy to share them here too, with much more soon to come!
Each day of the Weekender delves into a different question.
Day 1: Inclusion in Action asks, “What happens to ‘hybrid’ when you start with access and inclusion?” Aims to explore creativity centring around accessibility and inclusion
Day 2: Making it Sensory asks, ‘How can we make digital experiences sensory, warm and engaging?’. We will spend the day imagining our own sensory utopias and connecting through smell, taste and conversation.
Day 3: Imagining for Real asks, ‘How can we use a mix of tools to include everyone in neighbourhood visioning?’. Spend the day playing, building and 'neighbourhood-imagining' from where ever you are.
Day 4: Claiming the Right to Rest asks, ‘How can we use ‘hybrid’ to access and enjoy the spaces of rest we need to find peace and wellbeing?’ This is your chance to relax at the end of the weekender; take a pause and claim your right to rest.
For more info and to book your tickets, visit the KWMC website!
