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four people getting creative at a Co-Creative Connection Workshop in Newham
A person creating a moodboard at a Co-Creative Connection Workshop

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The Brief

 

Social isolation is higher than average in Newham and can have a major impact on physical and mental health. Loneliness has been as bad for people’s health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day and can bring on strokes, heart attacks, and dementia. 

 

This project has brought people together with a shared project learning new skills and coming together; especially for elderly residents, people with disabilities, and young people in the area.

 

This project has been the most popular yet, with over 100 participants. 

 

Participants included:

  • Deafroots (who create a world in which Deaf and hard of hearing people enjoy the same opportunities and quality of life as everybody else.)

  • SKILLS community outreach (people with additional needs)

  • Local Newham people

 

The age range for participants ran from 4 years old to 84 years old and included a diverse range of backgrounds and ethnicities - really reflecting the spirit of Newham. 

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Supported by: Deafroots, and Newham Council 

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Newham mural video
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8 people gathered round a table colouring, Co-Creative Connection Workshop
9 peopl holding up moodboards Co-Creative Connection Workshop they are all happy with their creations

The Process

 

The participants explored the use of colour and learnt about how they could be creative in their community to make a positive impact. The workshop focused on mindful activities and taught skills about patterns, colour and how to create their own mood boards. These mood board ideas fed into the final mural design.

 

There were three workshops per different group (nine in total) and were led by Rose Hill and supported by staff members at Deafroots and SKILLS, as well as our Project Assistant, Dina Chehrazi. 

 

The final design had a focus on nature, self-love, healthy eating and promoting sustainable growing and harvesting by including fruits and vegetables.

“I'm delighted to have unveiled the vibrant new murals in Stratford, they are a perfect example of community-led art and improving the community spirit in Newham.

 

Local people from all backgrounds and abilities have come together to create these artworks. Supporting local residents with their well-being and improving the local environment by bringing colour, and creating a sense of pride. It’s a fantastic example of how creativity unites us and makes our public spaces so special. This project has been brought to life with support from our Community Assembly funding."

Councillor Charlene McLean,

Cabinet member for Resident Engagement and Experience

10 people gathered around a mural in Newham which has just been reveiled as a part of Co-Creative Connection community mural project
7 people gathered around a mural in Newham which has just been reveiled as a part of Co-Creative Connection community mural project

The Outcome

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Everyone came together to design the ACM (aluminium composite material) mural which was installed and unveiled on the 28th of February 2023.

 

Thank you for keeping the fire of creativity burning bright, and preserving the beauty of Stratford for years to come. Our vibrant murals are there for all to see and the thousands of people that pass through Stratford each day, to proudly show off your creativity and contribution to your family, friends, and the public. We're determined to leave a lasting mark on Stratford’s rich history. These murals embody the spirit of Newham’s diverse and united community - a true celebration of your creativity, togetherness, and diversity.

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These murals are a shining testament to the power of collaboration, and we can't wait for future generations to be inspired by their beauty and significance. The murals are now there for you to see and enjoy, please go and take a look at everyone’s creativity.

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“The positive impact of this project has been that I think about coming here during the week so it’s given me something to look forward to. I’ve had a problem with anxiety and leaving the house so it was something to structure my week, and to socialise with a nice group. This is my third time coming here and this time I’m so much more relaxed.” 

Maudlyn Carter Wider community Participant Dec 2022

About The Design

 

Learn about the individuals who participated in this project and the thought process behind the design choices for each section of the mural.

white boarder

Dawn joined our team for the Newham Wider Communities project and brought with her a passion for incorporating patterned vegetables into the design. She had a unique talent for combining vibrant colours and intricate patterns to create visually stunning vegetable arrangements.

a rainbow made out of fruit and vegetables with the words self-Love, on a (ACM) Community mural on a Newham Council partnership planter in Newham, London.
A photo of a woman smiling at a Co-Creative Connection community Mural Reveal, the photo is surrounded by a white graphic boarder.
A photo of a woman smiling at a Co-Creative Connection community workshop, the photo is surrounded by a Dark blue graphic boarder.
A selection of brown leaves with a blue background on a (ACM) Community mural on a Newham Council partnership planter in Newham, London.
Blue boarder

Justina added yellow and orange patterned leaves to the design and incorporated these vibrant and bold colours in her mood boards. Her use of striking colour combinations helped to bring energy and excitement to the mural.

red boarder

Catherine suggested adding patterns to the butterflies and incorporated stripes and dots in her design, which was eventually included in the mural. Additionally, she proposed the inclusion of green leaves to symbolize the natural beauty of Newham.

on a (ACM) Community mural on a Newham Council partnership planter in Newham, London
A photo of a woman smiling at a Co-Creative Connection community workshop, the photo is surrounded by a red graphic boarder.
A photo of a man smiling at a Co-Creative Connection community workshop, the photo is surrounded by a pink graphic boarder
3 blue birds are flying over a rainbow made out of vegetables on a (ACM) Community mural on a Newham Council partnership planter in Newham, London.
pink boarder

Kosta had a amazing time at the Deafroots workshops and couldn't resist drawing some birds on his design. We loved his playful spirit and decided to bring his idea to life by adding three  blue birds on the self-love panel of the mural.

Orange boarder

Mani had a great time at the workshops and her design was super bright and colourful, she decided to add a checker pattern to the flowers, which look fantastic in the mural.

Some red and pink checkerboard flowers surrounded by bees on a (ACM) Community mural on a Newham Council partnership planter in Newham, London.
A photo of a woman smiling at a Co-Creative Connection community workshop, the photo is surrounded by a orange graphic boarder.
A photo of a woman smiling at a Co-Creative Connection community workshop, the photo is surrounded by a yellow graphic boarder.
Red, orange and blue flowers with bees buzzing around on a (ACM) Community mural on a Newham Council partnership planter in Newham, London.
yellow boarder

Antoinette, together with her mum and daughter, had a blast at the workshops and was thrilled with the final design. She incorporated a fun polka dot pattern into the bumble bees, which can now be spotted all over the mural.

green boarder

Alyissa and her mum, Martyna, enjoyed the workshops, they particularly liked the pattern and color designing. Alyissa had a great idea to include the word "respect" in the mural, which we all thought was a fantastic addition.

The words respect with a blue spotty background on a (ACM) Community mural on a Newham Council partnership planter in Newham, London.
A photo of a girl smiling at a Co-Creative Connection community workshop, the photo is surrounded by a green graphic boarder.
A photo of a woman smiling at a Co-Creative Connection community workshop, the photo is surrounded by a white graphic boarder.
a rainbow made out of fruit and vegetables with the words self-Love, on a (ACM) Community mural on a Newham Council partnership planter in Newham, London.
white boarder

Sevil designed the patterns in ‘self’ of the ‘self-love’ element of the design, she enjoyed using colour and patterns in the font.

Blue boarder

Maudlyn contributed the edible plants and flowers to our co-designed mural! Maudlyn loved learning about spots and wanted to incorporate them all over the design which was a beautiful addition to our vibrant murals.

Long leafy plants in green and patterned blue on a (ACM) Community mural on a Newham Council partnership planter in Newham, London.
A photo of a woman smiling at a Co-Creative Connection community workshop, the photo is surrounded by a Dark blue graphic boarder.

“I think about coming here during the week so it’s given me something to look forward to. I’ve had a problem with anxiety and leaving the house so it was something to structure my week, and to socialise with a nice group.” -Maudlyn Carter, Workshop participant.

A photo of a girl smiling at a Co-Creative Connection community workshop, the photo is surrounded by a red graphic boarder.
A checkard yellow sun and a rain cloud on a (ACM) Community mural on a Newham Council partnership planter in Newham, London.
red boarder

Shakeisha had a great time at the workshops experimenting with patterns, and she was particularly excited to incorporate a gingham design into the sun element of the mural.

pink boarder

Tina was passionate about including patterns in the flowers and leaves of the mural, as she believed it would add a natural and organic feel to the artwork.

Long leafy plants in green and patterned blue on a (ACM) Community mural on a Newham Council partnership planter in Newham, London.
A photo of a woman smiling at a Co-Creative Connection community workshop, the photo is surrounded by a pink graphic boarder.
A photo of a woman smiling at a Co-Creative Connection community workshop, the photo is surrounded by a orange graphic boarder.
The words be kind and a rainbow on a (ACM) Community mural on a Newham Council partnership planter in Newham, London.
Orange boarder

Martyna designed the ‘Be Kind’ to the mural and the purple colour in the wording as well as adding the stripes and spot patterns into the leaves near her ‘Be Kind’ statement.

“ The feeling of belonging and being involved in the community. To feel like a part of something great and contribute. It has really been helping me with my stress levels and being able to relax. To do some art and talk to people. What else could you wish for?!” Martyna Naidu, Workshop Participant

Newham Mural flower side a (ACM) Community mural on a Newham Council partnership planter in Newham, London.
Be kind Side a (ACM) Community mural on a Newham Council partnership planter in Newham, London.
Respect Side a (ACM) Community mural on a Newham Council partnership planter in Newham, London.
Self Love side a (ACM) Community mural on a Newham Council partnership planter in Newham, London.
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