Creative Connections Event

Creative Connections Event

12th November | iCentrum, Birmingham  Hosted by Bruntwood SciTech

On November 12th, artists, community leaders, and cultural organisations came together at iCentrum for Creative Connections: Collaborating for Art in the West Midlands, a vibrant showcase of creativity, collaboration, and dialogue.

Highlights of the Event

• Exhibition Stalls: Groups displayed art, crafts, and community projects, offering audiences a chance to explore diverse creative practices and learn about each organisation’s mission.

• Main Stage Performances:

  • John Sewell (Cosimo Art)

  • Elza (UA_UK Artfair)

  • Community Arts Projects UK

  • Shah Begum (United By 2022)

  • Spoken word by Sipho Eric Ndlovu

• Panel Discussions: Thought-provoking conversations with industry leaders and community representatives, including:

  • John Sewell (Cosimo Art) – championing affordable, accessible art for independent creators

  • Shah Begum (United By 2022) – continuing the legacy of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games through volunteering, engagement, and social value

  • Madeleine Kludje (The REP Theatre) – bringing professional theatre perspectives to community collaboration

  • Jatinder Ghatapru (UA_UK Artfair) – sharing work with people living with dementia

  • Huyen Phan & Janet Small (Community Arts Projects UK) – highlighting art as a universal language for healing and connection and Reverence James from HMP Birmingham

Why It Mattered

• Discovering diverse artworks and communities across the West Midlands

• Building bridges between artists, venues, and audiences

• Sharing ideas on how art and culture can thrive regionally

• Leaving inspired, connected, and energized to create together

Closing Note

The event celebrated the power of collaboration, showing that when communities, artists, and cultural leaders unite, art becomes not only a form of expression but a force for accessibility, inclusion, and social change.