Reflecting on a Powerful Creative Journey |
| These sessions first began through our Care, Create, Conserve project in 2024, and it's great that the legacy of that project continues to grow. As we move into the next phase, we do so with gratitude, excitement, and a deep commitment to giving people a creative voice. |  |
Our Co-Director Alex said:
“The creativity that emerged was remarkable; not just in the artwork, but in the conversations, the friendships, and the renewed sense of purpose.”
Showcasing the participants' work:
On top of the social aspect of the project and the benefits to the participants and the company funding the project, some really beautiful pieces of art were created which people could take home to share with loved ones.
Autumn trees using masking tape technique
Mindful Biro doodling session
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Pencil sketches of Dudley Castle (complete with a fascinating history shared by Alex!)
Acrylic Claude Monet-inspired paintings on canvas
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Blue ink plate designs in the Willow style
BSL learning sessions
MC Escher tessellations session
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Modelling Greek clay pots
Designing terracotta pots
‘WHAT THESE SESSIONS MEAN TO ME’
We regularly survey our participants for their feedback on our sessions.
This is what they had to say about the DDC / Your RWTC sessions:
This is what they had to say about the DDC / Your RWTC sessions:
Follow us on social media for updates and more snapshots from this inspiring project as it develops over the remaining months of 2025.
#GivingPeopleACreativeVoice #ArtAndRehab #NeuroRehabilitation #BSLInclusion #DDCfunded #WestParkHospital
#GivingPeopleACreativeVoice #ArtAndRehab #NeuroRehabilitation #BSLInclusion #DDCfunded #WestParkHospital
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A Springtime Burst of Creativity and Connection!
What a truly fantastic Easter HAF (Holidays Activities and Food) scheme we've had this year! We were really pleased to be funded by the Department for Education and Wolverhampton City Council once again to provide this range of enriching art, craft, and BSL experiences.
The HAF scheme is invaluable, providing funded places for eligible families of children and young people aged 7-16 (25 with EHCP) and recognising the profound impact holiday clubs have on them. These schemes are designed to help young people stay active, eat healthily, take part in enriching and engaging activities, and reduce social isolation.
We are incredibly proud to design our activities based on previous feedback from young people, ensuring they are relevant, exciting and inclusive. Building on the success of previous years, our workshops once again offered a vibrant mix of activities, foster a strong sense of creativity, community and support for every participant.
The HAF scheme is invaluable, providing funded places for eligible families of children and young people aged 7-16 (25 with EHCP) and recognising the profound impact holiday clubs have on them. These schemes are designed to help young people stay active, eat healthily, take part in enriching and engaging activities, and reduce social isolation.
We are incredibly proud to design our activities based on previous feedback from young people, ensuring they are relevant, exciting and inclusive. Building on the success of previous years, our workshops once again offered a vibrant mix of activities, foster a strong sense of creativity, community and support for every participant.
Day 1: Art, Healthy Living & BSL Basics
Our Easter HAF kicked off with a creative explosion! Young people dived into Minecraft drawings (including a fab 'Steve'!) and even a brilliant Jack Black portrait.
We then explored the weird and wonderful art of Giuseppe Arcimboldo, inspiring participants to create their own unique characters from fresh fruit – which they happily ate afterwards!
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Our wonderful Deaf role model, Gary, taught the children some valuable British Sign Language (BSL) vocabulary linked to healthy food, followed by an insightful presentation on living healthily by Alex. It was truly educational creative fun with a purpose!
Day 2: Clay, Charcoal & Creative Exploration
Day 2 brought more hands-on artistry! Clay modelling proved incredibly popular, and we loved seeing the fantastic creations take shape. Many young artists also experienced charcoal drawing for the first time, producing captivating pieces.
Day 3: Escher's Magic & Classic Designs
Mid-week, we challenged imaginations by delving into the ingenious works of M.C. Escher. Participants were inspired to create their own impressive tessellation art.
Later, we journeyed back in time to the 1800s, exploring the famous Blue Willow Pattern plate design. Young people then created their own stunning Willow Pattern designs on plates – with a few cheeky Jack Black features making an appearance!
Day 4: Music, BSL & Performance!
Our final day was a crescendo of music and sign language! Gary taught the children more British Sign Language (BSL), leading up to them learning how to sign our original song, "We Shine Together."
The creativity continued as they made their own instruments – Guiros, Tin Can Drums, Tambourines, and Maracas! The day culminated in two wonderful performances of the song: one with their handmade instruments and another entirely in sign language. What a powerful display of communication and teamwork!
The smiles, laughter, and incredible creations speak for themselves that took place over our Easter week. We're really proud of the energy and talent shown by everyone who joined us.
A huge thank you to All Saints Action Network Ltd for graciously hosting our activities.
Most importantly, our heartfelt thanks go to all our brilliant staff and dedicated volunteers, whose passion and hard work truly made this Easter HAF scheme unforgettable. You are the heart of REAL ARTS WORKSHOPS!
We're already buzzing with ideas for our summer HAF activities and can't wait to see you there for more creative adventures!
A huge thank you to All Saints Action Network Ltd for graciously hosting our activities.
Most importantly, our heartfelt thanks go to all our brilliant staff and dedicated volunteers, whose passion and hard work truly made this Easter HAF scheme unforgettable. You are the heart of REAL ARTS WORKSHOPS!
We're already buzzing with ideas for our summer HAF activities and can't wait to see you there for more creative adventures!
Participant Feedback from Easter HAF 2025
We were thrilled to hear what the young people had to say about their experience:
I enjoyed everything and I had a lot of fun drawing Minecraft Steve. If I had to rate it, I would rate it 5 stars!"
" I think it was a great experience to be here. I loved that we did art and drawing colouring."
" I liked art and your staff are very helpful and thank you."
I learned about the blue Willow Pattern plate and it was great learning about something new.
"I enjoyed everything today."
"I enjoyed all the activities equally since it was equally enjoyable"
"I loved everything and I love coming here."
"I enjoyed the Escher art as it was very fun and unique."
Survey Data
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#EasterHAF
#Wolverhampton
#YouthActivities
#CreativeFun
#BSL #Inclusion
#ArtWorkshops
#HAF2025
#RealArtsWorkshops
#Wolverhampton
#YouthActivities
#CreativeFun
#BSL #Inclusion
#ArtWorkshops
#HAF2025
#RealArtsWorkshops
Working with BID Services Youth Club
May 6-12th was Deaf Awareness Week in the UK. RAW delivered several projects including one with BID Services Youth Club, Birmingham based around Deaf identity. It followed on from an earlier project we ran with adults in Wolverhampton where we created a giant (5ft high) cardboard sculpture of signing hands, decorated with posters, drawings and words made by Deaf and hearing people (see photos at the bottom of this blog).
Young people with the final giant signing hands, now in the reception of BID SERVICES.
Some of the brilliant creative work being made.
Deaf Awareness at Mossley Community Arts Club
Gary explaining what BSL is
 What NOT to say when you meet a Deaf person! |  |
Our very own #DAWRoleModels2019 Gary O'Dowd led a Deaf Awareness session as part of our regular Community Arts Club on Tuesday evenings, 4.30-6.30pm at Mattesley Court, Walsall.
Giant signing hands for DeafFest 2019
Our giant signing hands made by adults at Zebra Access Art Day 18.4.19
A slideshow of closeups of the artwork created by mixed hearing and Deaf people at our joint Art Day with Zebra Access at Newhampton Arts Centre, Wolverhampton.
The sculpture will be on show at Deaffest at Lighthouse Media Centre 17-19 May 2019. RAW will have at stall 10am-4pm on Saturday 18th May. Come and meet us!
The sculpture will be on show at Deaffest at Lighthouse Media Centre 17-19 May 2019. RAW will have at stall 10am-4pm on Saturday 18th May. Come and meet us!
Fingerspelling alphabet
We are excited to be working in association with Deaf organisation ZEBRA ACCESS on a unique art project at Newhampton Arts Centre, Wolverhampton WV1 4AN.
The day starts at 10.30am and finishes at 3.30pm with an hour for lunch (there is a cafe on site or you can bring your own). We will be making a 3D sculpture using recycled materials - exploring Deaf identity, culture and experiences. There are craft activities for children too. Hearing friends and family are welcome.
This is a free event but please email [email protected] or text him on 07472 958534 to let him know if you are coming.
The day starts at 10.30am and finishes at 3.30pm with an hour for lunch (there is a cafe on site or you can bring your own). We will be making a 3D sculpture using recycled materials - exploring Deaf identity, culture and experiences. There are craft activities for children too. Hearing friends and family are welcome.
This is a free event but please email [email protected] or text him on 07472 958534 to let him know if you are coming.
2019 has seen us working with a wide range of ages already. We love to hear the stories from adults and also enjoy when they take ownership of their own work. Some examples of our work with the older generation are here.
Greetings Cards at BID Services: Gary led on this session at Deaf Cultural Centre in Birmingham. The artists used traditional card making techniques such as decoupage and collage as well as new technology – typesetting and sourcing images online which can be printed off during the session to create truly bespoke cards for loved ones.
Presentation to ZEBRA ACCESS Coffee morning at Lighthouse Media Centre.
We made a Wish Tree and Deaf people wrote on tags what they’d like from a potential Art Club. We also encouraged them to make small drawings which were hung on the tree. Despite many protestations of ‘I can’t draw’ I think you’ll agree the results beg to differ. It was really encouraging to see such imaginative work and watch this space to see if we get to produce more work with the Zebra Access group.
We made a Wish Tree and Deaf people wrote on tags what they’d like from a potential Art Club. We also encouraged them to make small drawings which were hung on the tree. Despite many protestations of ‘I can’t draw’ I think you’ll agree the results beg to differ. It was really encouraging to see such imaginative work and watch this space to see if we get to produce more work with the Zebra Access group.
Card making at Pensnett and Brierley Hill Active Retirement. Similar to the session at BID Services, this time we met a secret poet. A 92 year old gentleman wrote and recited his own poem about the pros and cons of drinking spirits! It went down a bomb with everyone – a real tonic!
We recently did a project with LET US PLAY at Green Park School, Wolverhampton
Let Us Play organise events for children with disabilities and we devised a Jungle Book Music/Art and Storytelling workshop.
Let Us Play organise events for children with disabilities and we devised a Jungle Book Music/Art and Storytelling workshop.
We practised performing the story with animal masks and musical instruments we’d created from scratch and the final performance would be in front of parents and carers.
We were blown away when one boy decided to stage manage the performance, suggesting we took to the stage (why hadn’t WE thought of that?) and telling the actors to hide behind the screen until their turn came up in the story. This is one of the key aims of RAW – that the people we work with take ownership of the work. It was a fantastic performance, all the better for the young man’s suggestions.
We are currently delivering this exciting and immersive art project for Support Plus, across 2 of their centres in Wolverhampton. It will involve joining together pieces of artwork physically and people and communities metaphorically.
Project branding
Support Plus are a day service for adults with a profound and multiple learning disabilities who require high support needs we also support people with physical disabilities to maintain and develop their quality of life. They provide a wide range of day opportunities whilst supporting people to access their local and wider community and The Big Link Up Art Project is one of those opportunities.
 An excited Alex launching the project |  Gary helping create wonderful artwork |
What is vital to us was that despite of some very profound needs the adults are engaged in decision making and actively making their own marks.
Enabling people to make choices
We are constantly evolving the project to suit the needs of our clients, investigating various strategies to enable engagement (and enjoyment, if it’s not fun what’s the point?) As one of our team is profoundly Deaf we are integrating sign language lessons into the sessions. This has benefits in terms of another new skill learnt, active engagement and breaking down communication barriers.
It is early days with the project but already both centres have their own DREAM TREE’s – which act as the project aims and objectives. We’ve found out about each individual – what colours they like, what they like to eat, where they like to go and who is important to them. Each has indicated to us what size canvas they will be painting on, what colour the background should be and an idea of what they will be painting or making (some are going to be 3D or textural pieces rather than 2D paintings).
 The Dream Tree at Centre 1 |  The Dream Tree at Centre 2 |
We are exploring apps which make digital art-making accessible to people with profound disabilities. The examples here are making a vocal sound that produces a unique soundwave and touch screen pattern making apps that respond to an individual’s touch.
 Unique soundwave 1  Using image creating apps that respond to touch |  Unique soundwave 2  Another example of image creating apps |
 "Getting To Know You" from "The King and I", nice background music! |  Gary leading the BSL lesson |
This project is a perfect example of how RAW approaches its work. We are customer centred, so although we go in with an overarching aim, it is the participants who steer the project. We are versatile and flexible enough to be able to adjust our delivery to ensure the best possible outcomes.
We are really excited to see how the project progresses and will post again in September when we are back onto it.
We are really excited to see how the project progresses and will post again in September when we are back onto it.
Author
Real Arts Workshops is an independent arts company based in the Black Country, providing bespoke workshops for various organisations and groups.
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