A NEW artist in residence project is coming to Woodrow, funded with cash raised by Severn Arts and Reimagine Redditch.
The ‘Love Woodrow’ project will commission an artist to work with residents in the area to create new installations with local people.
The project aims to use creativity to bring people together, boost health and wellbeing, enhance local pride in the area, and brighten up Woodrow Centre with public art.
Communities in Woodrow talked about sculpture and murals and the artworks will be created hand-in-hand with the artist in residence and the people of Woodrow.
The £69,000 grant will pay for a lead artist in residence in Woodrow who will stay in situ for six months.
This includes six days of visiting artists, a project manager for one day a week, a film-maker to capture the process and impact and a community marketing campaign to ensure everyone in Woodrow has the opportunity to take part.
Elaine Knight, arts director at Severn Arts, and a Reimagine Redditch consortium member, said: “The Inclusive Communities Fund aims to make a difference to people’s lives by supporting projects that will act as a catalyst to address inequalities.
“That’s why we’re thrilled to have secured an award from this fund, because of the positive impact it will have for close to 5,000 people in Woodrow.
“The selected artist will be working with new and established groups in Woodrow communities to co-create a programme of activities which responds uniquely to local issues.
“We can’t wait to see what they create together.”
Richard Bromhall, programme director for Reimagine Redditch, said: “The co-creation process will ensure the work is relevant to Woodrow people and is owned by them.
“The artist will have office and studio space in four community venues in Woodrow: Your Ideas’ The Den, Woodrow Meeting Rooms, Woodrow Library, and Redditch Borough Council’s Housing Department.”
In the lead up to the bid, conversations with people revealed a lack of cultural opportunities – many young people spoken to had never been to a museum or gallery – so the project proposes a series of sculptures across Woodrow to explore place, culture and heritage.
Visit reimagineredditch.org/contact-8 to get in touch and pitch your ideas.
