Our Culture

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Dave Young

Osei Johnson

Co-Creating Change

FUNDED by:

YEAR

2021-2022

TAGS

Young
Creatives

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Rediat Abayneh

Cieran O’Brien

illustration that captures someone's thoughts about figuring out how many "spoons" they have. trying to balance work, anxiety and being tired from work. There is a drawing of spoons next to the text

Illustrations by Ellisha Brinkhurst

illustration of coins stacked, with text about money and worth "it's almost like money quals worth because how much you work equals money".
text about how finding community with people that have similar experiences.

We know that the arts can play an instrumental role in creating social change, however the sector is notorious for unpaid, extractivist consultation practices and for serving a predominantly white, middle class and able-bodied demographic. 

Building on the successful model and framework developed in Whose Culture?, Our Culture was a Co-Creating Change funded project to resource Rising to pilot a new way of working with traditionally underserved groups of young people in Bristol - particularly those who identify as either disabled, D/deaf, working class or from a refugee background to support an intersectional community to make demonstrable social change through the arts. 

Over the course of 9 workshops across 4 months, we developed an inclusive process to explore what’s really important to these groups and understand how Rising can better support advocate for them in our work, and how arts and social justice can be better intertwined.

illustration detailing someones thoughts about how society benefits the neurotypical brain. It's written as someone is speaking, adding in 'umm. yeahs'.

Rising Arts gave a space to be myself and to meet others who were equally as passionate about me in supporting others or learning how to do so. We had a lot of fun but were also able to have deep conversations which was the perfect mix. Thanks to Rising, I have made connections with some amazing individuals and developed more of an interest in creative activism, something I was not familiar with before. I have been selected for the 100 Agents of Change Residency in November, which I am excited about. I'm currently struggling to find paid work at the moment but I hope something might come out of the residency or the other projects I am involved with :)

– ‘Our Culture’ Participant 

The thing that has surprised me the most is having the confidence to share my experiences. In our discussions, I shared personal situations that I have faced or am currently dealing with and I would never normally do that, even within some of my closest friends. I think that says a lot about the people who Rising selected, Osei who facilitated our sessions and Jess & Euella too!!

– ‘Our Culture’ Participant 

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