Wellingborough residents can get creative with dance, creative writing and performance of the Wizard of Oz

Residents in Wellingborough will be able to get creative over the winter with a host of arts and cutural projects to engage communities across the town.

Made With Many, a community-led arts programme, produces events and activities to encourage people to experience, create and take part in high-quality arts and cultural activities.

Commissions have been awarded to five new creative projects through the 'Cultivate' programme chosen by members of a volunteer community panel made up of Wellingborough people.

Sarah Brown, Wellingborough producer, said: "We’re delighted to be able to help these new creative projects get off the ground in Wellingborough, and we’re looking forward to welcoming more participants on to the Cultivate programme during 2021.”

The Speak Your Truth project, led by Warts and All Theatre, aims to engage young people from Wellingborough’s black community in expressing themselves around current issues through poetry and performance.

Sessions will run throughout December, January and February, culminating in a public film screening.

Email [email protected] for further details about this project.

Tina Heeley, founder of Dancemind, will be providing a 12-week dance programme to those age 65 plus at Glamis Hall in early 2021.

These sessions will offer anyone over age 65 with a willingness to explore movement and dance a chance to stay active, be creative and connect with like-minded people. This project will suit a range of abilities and include both seated dance and more physical movement.

In the New Year, writer Karen Rust will tell ‘A Tale of Two Citizens’, by pairing Wellingborough’s senior residents with its young people in a letter swap to bring people together across the generations and highlight both the differences and the similarities in their lives.

Individual stories about life events and memories of the town will also be gathered, which will be shared on a website for the community to share, along with photos and comments from participants.

Outside In Theatre will be working with local volunteers to create a guided audio walk for younger children and their families that will lead families through Croyland Gardens to explore a magical story in Spring 2021. The project will focus on enhancing mental wellbeing through connection with our emotions and the environment by using physical and sensory activities.

The final project will be Wellingborough-based GLJ Theatre working with people from across the borough to help write and act in a performance of The Wizard of Oz next summer.

The project hopes to bring the community together after the Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.

To help people with their creative projects the Cultivate Programme will restart their online training programme on December 17 with a session on filmmaking and presenting techniques, with further sessions being planned for early 2021.