We had a brilliant time at the Neighbourhood Creative Day on Saturday 22nd June!
‘Everyone was so welcoming and friendly – thoroughly enjoyed it!’
When we asked Coventry Citizens how arts, culture and creativity should shape a better future for our city, one of their nine recommendations was for the city to create a network of Neighbourhood Creative Hubs. They described these hubs as places where local people could discover creativity (their own, their neighbourhood’s and beyond); express creative ideas; showcase, promote, learn and share skills, creative talents, knowledge, information, materials, tools and equipment; and connect and meet new people.
A smaller group of participants from the Assembly has been working with Talking Birds over the last two years to steer our work on making the recommendations a reality, and learning and practicing the skills needed to make things happen themselves. Having managed to raise a small amount of funding from the Heart of England Community Fund, the group set to work putting together a pop up Neighbourhood Creative Hub event – as a demonstrator or proof of concept for the Neighbourhood Creative Hubs recommendation.
They curated the day, booked people to come and lead workshops, posted flyers through doors across the local area, ran activities and stewarded/hosted on the day. The event opened the doors and invited people to come and find out about some of the creative stuff that happens inside The Nest and The Daimler Powerhouse, and try some creative activities for themselves.
‘Wonderfully welcoming and lovely emphasis on the importance of arts and crafts and being creative.’
Activities included: The Whale (a three minute mini theatre show performed just for you (or for you and a friend, if you’re shy!) inside Talking Birds‘ giant tin whale); bike tuning by Doctor Bike; making greetings cards with Lakcon; slow stitching with Julia; gardening – planting a tub of cut-and-come-again tasty salad leaves to take away and grow on a windowsill (with Janet); joining a mindful walk; making Coventry postcards with Underground Lights; watching a rehearsal of Milesians by Imagineer; joining the music jam in the studio with Media Mania; learning how to sculpt clay flowers with Lucy from Pangaea Sculptor’s Centre; making a placard and adding your message to the mini Restore Nature Now march (with Lisa); finding out about the fascinating history of the Daimler Powerhouse with David; bringing a book you’ve read and exchanging it for one you’d like to read at the Neighbourhood Book Exchange; meeting the Young Producers at Highly Sprung; browsing the pop-up Neighbourhood Gallery showing the creativity of our neighbours; mini indoor den-making for small children; Neighbourhood Information Point (info on all the local organisations involved in putting the day together; Pop-up resting space; Tea, coffee and cake… Everything was free.
‘My children and myself really enjoyed it – so much to do, best little day
out for free! Amazing 100% do it again.’
Andy Moore’s fantastic photos give a wonderful flavour of the day:
‘I really liked the event. We need more things like this in Coventry. It’s nice to have creative things going on and mixing with people.’
Were you one of the 178 people who were there? What did you think?
As they left, one visitor was even overheard saying “That was the best thing we’ve been to in Coventry, ever!” – do you agree? Let us know…
Credits: This pop up event to test out and demonstrate the idea of Neighbourhood Creative Hubs was organised by a brilliant and dedicated group of Coventry people working with the artists at Talking Birds, in order to test out recommendations from Coventry’s Citizens’ Assembly on Arts & Culture.
It takes courage to step up and organise something to make life in your neighbourhood or city better – and it’s so exciting to see how taking part in the Citizens’ Assembly got these “ordinary Coventry people” fired up to make a difference in our city. Before the Assembly they didn’t even know each other and, since then, they’ve worked together to bring to life the vision of Coventry that their recommendations describe. We hope you came and enjoyed the event they put together – and perhaps you’ve been inspired to get involved in making things happen in your own neighbourhood?
The event was supported with funding from IM Properties Fund via the Heart of England Community Foundation.
You can read our blog about this event, here.
‘Excellent – well signposted – lots of excellent activities for different age groups. Very encouraging to see families and children of all ages participating.’
talking birds 
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