We collaborate with communities to create authentic artworks locally, nationally and internationally.

 

We work together with (and call this co creating) diverse artists, individuals, communities, audiences that society has marginalised or made isolated, and celebrate talent and potential by creating authentic artworks locally, nationally and internationally.

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We continue to build on strong relationships which we have established with our at-risk communities in Stockton, Durham, Sunderland and Newcastle as well as nationally and internationally with partners such as Radio GaMashie, in Ghana.

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We are looking forward to welcoming members of our communities with lived experience on to our

board of trustees.

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See this is, the thing about Skimstone is, we would never normally see stuff

like that, you know in the circles that I go around yes I might, a little bit more,

but I would never normally interact with a band like that, I would never

normally see the plays or do any extra stuff like the recordings and things like

that, I would never see that in my normal life, which is where Skimstone

comes in to it, because then you get to see all of this, you get to be part of an

exhibition you get to meet new people you get to talk to a lot of people.

Community participant/co creator – Evaluation Report 2022

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Communities we're currently working with:

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In 2021/22 we worked with 261 beneficiaries and co-creators, with 103 artists, and we reached audiences of nearly 3,500 people. Together, artists and co-creators originated 37 artistic pieces at or from 185 artistic events. In our annual programme of activities and creativity, we work together to express what matters to each person - individually and collectively - seeking to influence social understanding, compassion and positive change.

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Our Approach

We use a co-creation approach to be supportive to regional, national and international artists, who are diverse and under-represented - working with them in pathways from Leadership Team and Arts Award through to Emerging Artists and established Associate Artists.

 

Our years of established co-creation practice mean we engage people to work together as participating creators, promoting an ethos of equality and shared ownership. This encourages creators to share stories and ideas, learn new skills and techniques and respond, challenge and co-create authentic, original, and innovative artworks - with rather than by professional artists. Our 'create with us' approach emphasises how making artwork together shares a new lens on the world we inhabit; it increases engagement and visibility and produces work to provoke thought, ownership and powerful responses through social action.

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Our actively-inclusive approach enables opportunities to work together for all less-represented groups including LGBTQIA+ identities, people of colour and across cultures, people who face challenges with struggling mental health, illness, poverty and people with lived experiences seeking asylum and refugee status.

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We blend the needs and concerns of those we work with by creating artistic opportunities and platforming events which shared artworks with audiences. The artworks and events created are uplifting and challenging and encourage positive social action.

 

Recent projects include:

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