Arts with communities “Creativity is contagious, pass it on.” Albert Einstein We work in communities that are labelled “hard to reach” and harness their creative energies. This approach enables the development of artwork that can be used as a tool to start difficult conversations, raise awareness or find solutions. This could be: a call for action around social or political issues; tackling discrimination in local communities; or integrating and connecting people from different backgrounds. We work with you to research, design, deliver and evaluate multi-media arts projects. All of our work is solution-focussed, and there is always a strategic aim behind the project. How we can work with you We bring together different communities in order to facilitate community integration and celebrate diversity through art. We gather information about social issues from communities, collate these into an informative and eye-catching artistic piece and present it to commissioners, decision makers and politicians (see the picture above, which was created in coproduction with the Mental Health People's Parliament). We raise awareness of issues within a community through artwork (for an example see Short Black N Sides, where stigma around mental health in BME communities is challenged through a series of photographs). We deliver spoken word residencies and poetry slams in your youth club, community group or organisation. These can also be offered to staff as a team building or professional development opportunity. We create publications, digital books, on-line shows and exhibitions of work. Other things you might be interested in Short Black N Sides A creative approach to designing a community place of safety in Sandwell