Our Culture
Dave Young
Osei Johnson
Co-Creating Change
FUNDED by:
YEAR
2021-2022
TAGS
Young
Creatives
Rediat Abayneh
Cieran O’Brien
Illustrations by Ellisha Brinkhurst
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.
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