Based in the West Midlands, Real Arts Workshops (R.A.W.) - is led by graphic designer, artist and musician Alex Vann, and profoundly Deaf crafter and BSL tutor Gary O'Dowd and provides high-quality, tailor-made Creative Arts Workshops with integrated British Sign Language for all sorts of learners including those who may not always have access to the Arts.
For example: Deaf groups, older people, excluded children, isolated people, LGBTQ+, travelers, trans, people with autism, dementia, low self-esteem, BAME, people at risk of suicide, mental health issues, community groups, online learners, schools, disabled groups and many more.
Our Purpose
Is to engage people in meaningful Arts experiences that enable them to build their confidence and break down barriers
Our Vision
We believe that Art is good for you - WHOEVER WHO YOU ARE! (Grayson Perry) 

• Our team has many of years of experience in education and believe in balancing academic success with developing creativity.​
• All of our staff and volunteers hold Enhances DBS checks and we have PLI up to £10m.
• Alex is trained to Level 6 in BSL.
• See our other qualifications, memberships and training.
  

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A Brief History!

IT ALL STARTED WITH A BOOK!

We all know the famous saying about children being more interested in the packaging of a present than the gift itself!

This is because cardboard and other packaging materials leave much more to the imagination.

This was the inspiration for 'JOSEPH THE USEFUL CARDBOARD BOX' which was written by Alex Vann and published in 1998 with the help of an Arts Council grant and went on sale in WATERSTONES bookstores across the UK.
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The story has now been digitized and is available as a story video and also a song video

Also, visit our 'Resources' page for 'Joseph' themed things to make and do.

This led onto Alex and his team visiting schools, festivals, centres for children and other settings, telling the story of JOSEPH and creating LARGE art from cardboard and other recycled materials. Here are a few examples:

Egypt Creative Day at Birchley PRU: story writing, costume making and music making.

Staff training at The Halesowen Project.

Willow Pattern topic: Chinese Shadow Theatre, plate design, scenery and puppet making.

Alice Themed Workshop at Priory Park Festival, Dudley.

Space Theme Workshop at Waterstones Bookstore, Merry Hill, Dudley.

Real Arts Workshops today

#GivingPeopleACreativeVoice

We work with a wide range of organisations to deliver meaningful and engaging arts experiences and have developed our own programmes that bring people together and prompt ideas for future aspirations such as #BuildingBridges future goals project, #BigLinkUp Art project, Honesty Portraits, 5 Ways to Wellbeing and many more.
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We have worked with Mossley Big Local, City of Wolverhampton Council, Department for Education, Deaf Action Scotland, Royal School for the Deaf Derby, HeadStart, Zebra Access, Sandwell Deaf Community Association, Midland Mencap, The Way Youth Zone, many secondary and primary schools, British Deaf Association and many more.