“We are more than a mass of cells, more than a diagnosis, more than the label of service user and carer. Music connects with that, to make it real and bring it to life.”

How can we amplify the community voices and foster health and well-being in collaboration with practitioners and music?

Join Community Innovation Practitioner and classically trained cellist Georgina Aasgaard from the University of Liverpool, as she explores the importance of valuing practitioners' expertise as they work with diverse communities.

In this episode, Georgina examines a successful music and health programme by the Liverpool Philharmonic and Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust.

You’ll visit collaborative music-making in action, including a library, a high-security hospital, and a community pantry. You’ll hear from the team and practitioners who deliver these courses and the participants who’ve benefitted from them.

Discover the power of practitioner-led, co-created music in diverse communities and the need for more participant voices and practitioner support structures.

Georgina’s Community Innovation Practitioner story proposes the "5 C's of Practice" - Connection, Collaboration, Creativity, Commitment, and Care - as a framework for co-designing supportive community environments.

Read the transcript here

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Creative Communities Podcast

01:36 Exploring Liverpool's Music and Health Programme

02:36 Georgina's Journey and Research

07:26 The Life Rooms: A Unique Social Model

10:31 Impact of Music on Mental Health

20:51 Co-Creation in High Secure Hospitals

25:35 St. Dunstan's Church: A New Community Hub

36:28 Challenges and Opportunities in Collaborative Music Making

44:11 Conclusion and Next Episode Preview

Useful links

About Georgina’s Creative Communities project - https://creativecommunities.uk/research/georgina-aasgaard

More from AHRC Creative Communities Programme, and to find out how to get involved - Creative Communities.uk

Thanks Thanks to the Life Rooms participants and staff for their trust and support, to visiting musicians Mandy Burvill, Claire Henry and Ian Stephens, Nicola Hopson and Michael Eakin from the Philharmonic, Michael Crilly from Mersey Care, and Jacky Waldock and Josie Billington from the University of Liverpool. -----------------------------------------

The Creative Communities podcast explores the power of cultural research and collaborative creativity. Join us as we discover how communities across the UK are tackling challenges and building a brighter future through groundbreaking projects.

Over six episodes, meet inspiring "Community Innovation Practitioners" leading the way. We'll follow their journeys of cultural collaboration, co-creation, and innovation, showcasing real-life examples of how creativity empowers communities to build a stronger, more resilient UK.

Credits

Creative Communities is funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council UK (Grant Agreement No AH/X001555/1) and hosted at Northumbria University, Newcastle.

With podcast production and training from MIC media.

“The success story is a change of culture internally. That's really difficult to do. Changing the direction of a massive ship while it's in transit is a tough thing.”

How can an accessible, design-led approach support genuine community engagement and collaboration?

Join Community Innovation Practitioner and researcher Gaston Welisch from Glasgow School of Art as he explores how the University of Glasgow’s Arts and Humanities Partnership Catalyst is fostering collaboration between academics and industry and third-sector partners.

In this episode, discover how Gaston’s use of creative methods has enhanced collaboration and understanding of Catalyst themes. You’ll hear from the Catalyst team who have designed and tested this engaging and accessible research and the participants who are benefiting from this approach.

You’ll also visit the most recent Catalyst project that aims to revitalise Govan Old Church in Glasgow as a community hub.

Hear Gaston’s Community Innovation Practitioner journey through the Catalyst from the challenges, to achieving valuable insights and genuine community engagement that will better design projects that truly reflect and service local needs.

Read the transcript here

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Creative Communities

01:37 The Catalyst, a Design-Led Knowledge Exchange

02:43 The Catalyst Workshops

04:24 Exploring Workshop Themes and Methods

05:10 Reflecting on the Catalyst Process

11:03 Challenges and Opportunities in Govan

18:38 The Role of Visual Tools in Collaboration

31:16 Participant Experiences and Feedback

41:49 Conclusion and Next Episode Preview

Useful links

About Gaston’s Creative Communities project - https://creativecommunities.uk/research/gaston-welisch

More from AHRC Creative Communities Programme, and to find out how to get involved - Creative Communities.uk

Thanks Thanks to Dr. Cheryl McGeachan and Prof. Stephen Driscoll for sharing their thoughts and time. My thanks also to the Catalyst team: Dr. Lindsay Middleton, Dr. Neil McIntyre, Dr. Fraser Rowan, Dr. Kirstie Wild, and Dr. Michael Pierre Johnson. I'm deeply appreciative of the participants and partners for the Govan Old Catalyst for sharing their knowledge and ideas. Their contributions are invaluable.

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The Creative Communities podcast explores the power of cultural research and collaborative creativity. Join us as we discover how communities across the UK are tackling challenges and building a brighter future through groundbreaking projects.

Over six episodes, meet inspiring "Community Innovation Practitioners" leading the way. We'll follow their journeys of cultural collaboration, co-creation, and innovation, showcasing real-life examples of how creativity empowers communities to build a stronger, more resilient UK.

Credits

Creative Communities is funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council UK (Grant Agreement No AH/X001555/1) and hosted at Northumbria University, Newcastle.

With podcast production and training from MIC media.

“This research project has given us a responsibility to do this. It’s put Portrush on the map as a skating destination.” How can collaboration and co-creation among skaters, partners, and local authorities build a stronger, inclusive and vibrant skateboarding community in Portrush?

Join Community Innovation Practitioner and Research Fellow Jim Donaghey from Ulster University, as he explores the power of partnership, collaboration and DIY culture to support the long-standing campaign for a skate park in Portrush, Northern Ireland.

In this episode, discover how preserving skateboarding heritage through videography, is helping to connect past and present generations of skaters. This is helping to foster a sense of community and supporting them to advocate for a dedicated skate space.

You'll visit skate spots, meet passionate skaters, and hear from urban sports experts and lots of different community voices, from local shop owners to parents.

Listen as Jim shares the story of this Creative Communities project, exploring the challenges and triumphs of creating a supported skate culture in his hometown.

BBC © copyright content reproduced courtesy of the British Broadcasting Corporation. All rights reserved. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006mvxy

Music: ‘Causeway Rebel’ Team Fresh, 2010. By Browne, Crowe, Donaghey, Dunbar, Evans, Kennedy, Friers, Shields.

Read the transcript here Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Creative Communities Podcast

01:31 Exploring Portrush's Skateboarding Scene

03:33 The Skatepark Campaign: A 30-Year Journey

05:51 Challenges

08:12 Community Voices: Perspectives on Skateboarding

14:21 Station Square: A Hub for Skateboarding

18:12 DIY Culture and Community Efforts

27:35 Research Interventions and Their Impact

35:11 Reflections and Future Prospects

52:58 Conclusion and Next Episode Preview

Useful links About Jim’s Creative Communities project - https://creativecommunities.uk/research/jim-donaghey

More from AHRC Creative Communities Programme, and to find out how to get involved - Creative Communities.ukThanks

Deepest gratitude to Slaine Browne for all his creative work, and to everyone at Causeway Association of Urban Sports – we’ll get Portrush a skatepark yet. Thanks to Coast Carpentry for showing us what to do, and to Igloo Pizza and Babushka Café for keeping us fed and watered.

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The Creative Communities podcast explores the power of cultural research and collaborative creativity. Join us as we discover how communities across the UK are tackling challenges and building a brighter future through groundbreaking projects.

Over six episodes, meet inspiring "Community Innovation Practitioners" leading the way. We'll follow their journeys of cultural collaboration, co-creation, and innovation, showcasing real-life examples of how creativity empowers communities to build a stronger, more resilient UK.

Credits

Creative Communities is funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council UK (Grant Agreement No AH/X001555/1) and hosted at Northumbria University, Newcastle.

With podcast production and training from MIC media.