The Power of True Stories
Blog by Helen Willmott, Programme Director.
In the last few weeks, we’ve watched as the world has come out of lockdown straight into mass protest. Even my normally sleepy hometown of Higham Ferrers held its first protest in living memory last weekend. Alongside the brutality and violence shown towards black people across the world, we also know that the COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionally affected the black and minority ethnic communities. So in response, let me say before anything else: Black Lives Matter. They matter to us as individuals and as a programme.
However, it’s one thing saying something, and another to do something about it. I’ll be honest with you, the Made With Many team are all White European. Whilst we know that we need to be more diverse, we’re going to need a bit of help and time to make that happen. And as the British education system has done a pretty awful job of teaching black history, we’ve all got a little bit of self-education to do.
What I am confident in, is that arts and culture have a vital role in helping all of us to understand other people’s experiences and perspectives. Just think of what you can learn from films and novels that take you directly into another person’s thoughts and experiences. They’re important in developing respect, understanding and empathy.
Having just changed our name to Made With Many, we’re committed to making sure that our programmes are created in partnership with the entire community, especially people of colour. We’re going to continue to create new art that tells local stories about the people who call Corby and Wellingborough home to share with the wider community.
So, look out for some new projects telling local stories that will be happening later this year – and if you’re in Corby or Wellingborough and you want to invite us to work with your community, then please get in touch. We can only do this together.
Contact us by emailing info@madewithmany.org or by leaving a message on 01536 267895, and if you’d like to keep up to date with our work sign up for our e-newsletter below.
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