Four groups of Gloucester residents have collaborated with professional musicians, writers and choreographers to produce a series of new creative experiences in their communities.

These include a 'wearable art' fashion show featuring local designers and models, and a new song developed with beatboxer Conrad Murray, fresh from the BBC TV adaptation of his hit show Frankenstein.

Gloucester arts charity Strike A Light have worked with 'community producers' - local residents with a passion for making exciting events happen in their area - in White City and Barton & Tredworth to instigate the four projects across the city.

Strike A Light introduced these community producers to local and touring arts professionals. The producers then chose which artists they wanted to collaborate with, and began working together on the creative projects they had been dreaming of.

Those initial conversations started back in September 2020 - and they're coming to fruition now. Each collaboration has produced its own unique experience:

• A choreographed Fashion Show, charting a journey from the Windrush generation to today.
• A series of workshops for a small group of women to find their voices and express themselves in poetry - which will then be turned into a hand-sewn textile banner.
• A filmed panel discussion, where the guests are all Gloucester residents - sharing their stories of what life is really like in the city.
• A series of singing and songwriting sessions, culminating in an original song - which will be performed, recorded and shared online.

The intention is for the collaborations to continue and develop into 2021, to see what ideas the community producers would like to pursue next - and, hopefully, to produce some live, in-person events (covid restrictions permitting).