Local artists invited to inspire Staffordshire’s young generation

Staffordshire artists are being invited to join an exciting project, working with young people creatively, to inspire their pride in the county.

We Are Staffordshire, the place marketing delivery organisation for the county is behind the arts project.  The initiative  will see creative workshops take place in primary schools across Staffordshire next year, in preparation for Staffordshire Day on 1 May 2024, when the county comes together to celebrate.

The project will aim to answer the question, ‘What does Staffordshire mean to you?’ by encouraging artistic expression and storytelling.  It follows on from an activity earlier this year where artists visited six schools in the county, offering workshops ranging from creative writing to dance to ceramics.

Philip White, Deputy Leader at Staffordshire County Council said:

“We have a lot to shout about here in Staffordshire, and over the last years we’ve used Staffordshire Day to tell the world what a wonderful place it is to live in and visit.

“An important part of our Staffordshire Day celebrations is to make sure young people are involved, and this is a fantastic opportunity to bring them together to celebrate Staffordshire in this creative way.  To help make the project a success, we’re looking for artists based in Staffordshire or those who have a strong local connection to the area and who have a proven ability to work with young people or community groups.  If this sounds like you, then please contact the team.”

Earlier this year, Windsor Park Middle School in Uttoxeter worked with artist Katie Holtom to create a collection of stories, poetry, memories and musings during their workshop.

Katie said: “It was an absolute joy to work with so many children, who were obviously incredibly proud of where they live.  They were excited to use these new art forms to explore deeper into Staffordshire and feel empowered to celebrate their home!”

The creative writing collection was displayed alongside Staffordshire themed ceramic pieces at Lichfield Cathedral earlier this year.  Simon Warburton, Executive Director of Lichfield Cathedral and We Are Staffordshire Place Board member, said:

“We Are Staffordshire recognises that pride in our County needs to start as young as possible.  Our event last year was a great success.  This year we want to go bigger and better with our efforts and are delighted to be able to work with even more young people.

“This project offers a unique opportunity for artists to make a meaningful impact in Staffordshire, by inspiring the young generation to celebrate the essence of their county.  We encourage all talented artists to submit their proposals and become a part of this exciting initiative.”

Artists are encouraged to submit proposals by 22 December.  More information about how to put forward proposals can be found here.