Current Projects

 

Here We Are, Ongoing

We are lucky to have the Forest Recreation Ground on our doorstep, and with our building having been closed due to covid-19 since March, our Community and Learning team launched Here We Are in September 2020.

Here We Are was a six-week series of outdoor workshops using the natural environment and arts activities to reconnect with young people after the first lockdown.

Our team and their youth groups stayed in touch online during lockdown, but everyone was excited to take part in workshops together again outside. The activities included lots of movement, collaboration, and multi-sensory explorations inspired by the autumn colours of the Forest Recreation Ground community gardens.

The young people involved told us how important this experience was for their wellbeing, self-esteem and creativity.

"Connected again after not being properly connected during lockdown"
"Relaxed and happy"
"Calm, a release from the house"

Our team brought these brilliant young people together to help them reconnect with nature and each other. They have continued to support them through YARD and Art Clubs. We are currently planning further Here We Are projects in the Forest Recreation Community Gardens, so look out for updates on our social media soon.

Communities Linked, Ongoing

Our team collaborated with Communities Inc for a series of online conversations in February 2021 to explore what being actively anti-racist means to local people, and how we can unite across communities to combat racism together. These conversations came from a place of truth and hope, looking at how we take action through mutual support.

Working with professional musicians Mr Shay and JayaHadADream, these sessions included spoken word and poetry to help inspire our thinking and created dialogue to encourage interactive, friendly and forward-thinking discussions.

These community conversations have helped inform the creation of a short film. We're currently working with the artists to produce and distribute this film which will represent our visions for an actively anti-racist city. Keep your eyes on our social media for updates about the film.

Black Lives Matter Project, ongoing

This project emerged out of the BLM protests around the world, and as a direct response to the collective need to shift current practices around anti-racism in and outside of New Art Exchange. The protest in Nottingham in June 2020 also brought more attention to the local context of institutionalised racism.

The project is currently being developed as a collaborative effort across teams at NAE. An eagerness to change strategies and methodologies is driving this process, which aims to reflect on and tackle the urgent question of what it is to actively practice anti-racism today.

Whilst the project is yet to be finalised, it intends to lead to the creation of a discursive and interactive space in the Main Gallery – not simply another exhibition, for visitors to take up space, contribute and question anti-racism. This is a work in process which we hope will anticipate and support NAE's development as a leading anti-racist organisation, creating research and learning that will inform future strategies, policies, and project strands with a stronger local resonance.