How chatting to an artist could turn your stories into Corby's latest community-inspired artworks

Corby residents are being encouraged to pick up the phone and redial the Core Theatre after a lockdown project inspired the theatre's director to commission four artists to carry on his conversations, and produce artworks.

In May, The Core’s Director, Joe Flavin, set up a chat line - Core Calls - to engage with people in the town and surrounding area, and ensure that people in the community facing loneliness and isolation or who were without access to broadband or hardware, still had access to a friendly voice.

Mr Flavin chatted to callers about their day, their concerns, fears and hopes and aspirations during lockdown.

He said: "Core Calls was conceived as a way to stay in touch with anyone starting to feel jaded by technology or those that didn’t have access and still wanted to connect.

"I’ve had some fascinating conversations with people – some of whom had stories to tell and others just wanted a chat."

Mr Flavin will now pass the receiver over to the artists to staff the phone line for a four-week period before creating a new piece of art inspired by their conversations with Corby residents.

Creating a lasting commemoration and celebration of Northamptonshire stories will be dancer and choreographer Tim Casson; Northampton illustrator Rosie May; songwriter and storyteller, Mike McGrother and crafter and artist, Phiona Richards. Each artwork will be showcased to the public later this autumn.

Mr Flavin added: "I’m excited to see how these brilliant artists can continue to offer this sometimes vital human to human conversation and capture the spirit of our community to create something lasting as a memory of this strange time."

Anyone who would like to chat to any of the artists or has a story to share can contact Core Calls on 01536 470479 or alternatively email [email protected] leaving your name and number to be called back.

Core Calls is open to anyone aged 18 or over, no referral is needed. Lines are open 12 noon to 6pm, Monday to Friday.

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