In July 2019, we began our first project in Lincoln Green. Our decision to work in Lincoln Green was based on our previous experience of working in the area with residents and organisations including Touchstone and Burmantofts Senior Action. The outcome for this project was a co-created zine which was shown as part of Index Festival.
Our second project took place in January 2020, working with residents at Parkway Towers in Seacroft. We worked alongside Zest, Housing Leeds, 100% Digital Leeds, and Outer East HAP to produce a short film about high rise living.
In July 2019, we began our first project in Lincoln Green. Our decision to work in Lincoln Green was based on our previous experience of working in the area with residents and organisations including Touchstone and Burmantofts Senior Action. The outcome for this project was a co-created zine which was shown as part of Index Festival.
The Scargills project took place in March 2021, during the third lockdown of the coronavirus pandemic.This was the first stage of a project funded by Leeds Inspired using photography and creativity to tell the personal stories of people living in social housing.
In May 2021, we began the second stage of the Leeds Inspired Project. The Project being the first time we had met with a group face to face since the beginning of Covid 19. Particpants stories leaned towards the experience of living with Covid and the impact it had upon communities and the importance of community space.
The final stage of the Leeds Inspired Project took part at Shakespeare Towers in the nearby St Margarets Church Hall. Working with older residents of Highrise buildings, participants explored the impact of isolation within social housing during a worldwide pandemic.
The Gamble Hill Project was a project that ran in the Gamble Hill area of Leeds aimed at engaging tenants. We were asked to work with residents of Gamble Hill using art as a tool to engage residents in conversations. The Project began during lockdown. Originally we intended for particpants to take part remotely in sessions and the project with the support of Barca began conversations with local residents about getting involved in the ar
During the summer we organised some photography walks with LASSN (Leeds Asylum Seekers’ Support Network), for their participants on the Connecting Opportunities project. These informal sessions were aimed at introducing people to new areas of Leeds or getting them to look at familiar places in new ways. Participants learned techniques to take more interesting photographs using their phones and digital cameras, learned how to edit their photographs and were introduced to new vocabulary.
The Highrise Project has partnered with community artist Edek Thompson to present Edek’s Doodle Chat – a relaxed social group for all to doodle and chat from 2pm – 6pm. Drop in for as long as you would like. Materials, space, wifi and refreshments are provided free of charge
Moving Pictures is a series of stop motion animations created by refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants living in Leeds, which responds to Mohammad Barrangi’s exhibition. Facilitated by The Highrise Project and part of Leeds University Library Galleries’ ‘Welcoming Migrants’ initiative, the project took place over the course of six workshops. The group explored the magic of storytelling through collage, print and stop motion animation. Participants learned new stop motion techniques, including character development, storyboarding, and green screen to tell short, emotive stories. While the workshops did not focus specifically on their personal experiences of migration, many participants chose to explore ideas around travel, translation and alienation to share their unique insights.
In May 2023, The Highrise Project collaborated with refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants to respond to the Treasures of The Brotherton Gallery exhibition ‘Shifting Borders,’ curated by Chris Taylor. The exhibition explored themes of mapping, journeys, and migration through the mediums of art, literature, and cartography.
The works on display ranged from historical travel guides to contemporary pieces that address issues of place and memory. Over six weeks, The Highrise Project ran a series of workshops with a core group of participants as part of Leeds University Library Galleries’ ‘Welcoming Refugees’ programme. The sessions incorporated art and technology approaches to ESOL to promote inclusion and accessibility.
Our work with people who spoke English as a second language in the community led us to develop a project which was supported by the Communities Team Language Hub programme. Language Hub is a grants programme offered by Leeds City Council Communities Team.
The funding focuses on bringing people from new and settled communities together through activities, so people can share their skills, build relationships and have opportunities to practise conversational English.
