“I wasn't expecting this project to impact us in the way it has. It's breaking a generational cycle and it builds human connection. We've seen this happen in our group.”
How can collaboration and creativity tackle the stigma of addiction and trauma?
Join Community Innovation Practitioner and Local Coordinator Áine Brady from Queens University in Belfast, as she explores the transformative power of culture and creativity.
In this episode, join Áine in The Market, a working-class community grappling with addiction and trauma. Here she delivers a year-long partnership with the Market Development Association and Pangur Ban, a local arts group. Together, they address the stigma surrounding addiction and trauma through "The Tapestry Project," a resident-led photography project.
You’ll visit the project’s intergenerational participants, who tell the story of this community's resilience through historical, societal and economic challenges. Now, through the collaborative power of The Tapestry Project, they’ve found a sense of connection and empowerment.
Hear Áine’s Community Innovation Practitioner story, which emphasises the power of collaboration, challenges policy models, and champions arts-based approaches – all thanks to genuine cross-sector partnerships.
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Read the transcript here
00:00 Introduction to the Creative Communities Podcast
01:47 Exploring Belfast's Market Community
03:07 The Tapestry Project: A Community Initiative
06:28 Historical Context and Challenges
14:42 Participant Experiences and Reflections
22:31 Creative Methods for Addressing Trauma
24:22 The Power of Art in Community Development
29:40 The Tapestry Exhibition
41:37 Challenges and Learnings from the Project
43:22 Empowering Communities Through Arts and Research
46:59 Conclusion and Next Episode Preview
About Áine’s Creative Communities project - https://creativecommunities.uk/research/aine-brady
More from AHRC Creative Communities Programme, and to find out how to get involved - Creative Communities.uk
Thanks to the community workers in the Market; Fionntan, Siobhan, Eimear and Claire Louise. Thanks to Matt Faris and Karen McGuigan for your support and encouragement. Biggest thanks go to the participants of the Tapestry project and the people of my beloved community, the Market. Thanks for always turning up, being vulnerable and trusting me with your stories. Market Abú!
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The Creative Communities podcast explores the power of cultural research and collaborative creativity. Join us as we discover how communities across the UK are tackling challenges and building a brighter future through groundbreaking projects.
Over six episodes, meet inspiring "Community Innovation Practitioners" leading the way. We'll follow their journeys of cultural collaboration, co-creation, and innovation, showcasing real-life examples of how creativity empowers communities to build a stronger, more resilient UK.
Creative Communities is funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council UK (Grant Agreement No AH/X001555/1) and hosted at Northumbria University, Newcastle.
With podcast production and training from MIC media.
