In 2023, I was commissioned by Colours of Redbridge to lead a series of 16 ‘Here We Share’ sessions. From June to September, we organised a series of 16 creative listening workshops across diverse localities of the London Borough of Redbridge, including Ilford, Loxford, Hainault, and Fullwell Cross. These workshops aimed to engage local communities in actively shaping the future of Colours of Redbridge’s programming.
Collaborating with local artists, we designed these sessions as a travelling pop-up tea party. Using tea as a universal leveller, we facilitated open conversations in a relaxed, familiar setting, making it comfortable for participants to share insights and stories about their lives and communities.
The workshops included a variety of creative activities designed to encourage expression and gather community insights:
Postcard Memoirs: Participants wrote about their memories and future hopes.
Thoughtful Tags: Community members shared their thoughts on luggage tags, adding a visual element to their words.
Mini Photo Studio: We used chalkboards with prompts to help participants express their preferences and aspirations in photos.
Question Time: Through open-ended questions, we facilitated deeper discussions about community needs and desires.
These activities were designed to do more than just collect data; they were about creating an engaging space for people to connect and contribute actively. The insights from these sessions are now guiding the development of future community projects that Colours of Redbridge are delivering that focus on learning, cultural celebration, and local economic growth.
As a Redbridge resident and artist, this project was a meaningful way to contribute to my community. It was a chance to listen, learn, and help ensure that the future programming reflects the real needs and wishes of the people here. Additionally, I authored the extensive evaluation report for the project, and the key findings have been distilled into a shorter insights report, both of which are instrumental in shaping the continued development of the creative community programmes delivered by Colours of Redbridge for the people of Redbridge. Read more about the process here.