“Birmingham Voices” is a participatory photography and written word project with families and residents, particularly those from the BAME community who are from South of Birmingham.

 

The project is a 3-month programme with local participants particularly from underrepresented BAME backgrounds and lower economic groups. During the workshop-based structure, participants will create their own photographic and narrative-based work and produce a portfolio of images and words, with accompanying captions which will be used as a final online showcase and exhibited work that celebrates and shares the cultural heritage of the East Birmingham’s diverse community’s taboos and myths about dying and how diverse communities think about having compassionate conversations around dying; especially the emotional and cultural traditions often very different and can seem difficult to discuss.

 

The projects East Birmingham response is key to this co-curated workshop structure. The project also aims to connect the community through this arts project that will help tackle community mental and physical well-being including the prevention or reduction of social isolation and loneliness trough creativity. Dying well and its related thoughts, taboos and community expression are key to the project theme.

 

With the current climate of post Lockdown, many communities will feel isolated and we hope this engagement to this deprived communities through these dark times. The project will champion the city’s most deprived areas and champion BAME arts and community through localised art engagement that is representative and explores interpretation of wellbeing.

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