NEW CREATIVES

Real living wage traineeship programmes

Our New Creatives programme was a unique, paid traineeship designed to launch the careers of emerging artists in Calderdale. Over five or six months our trainees had the opportunity to earn, learn, and create at the same time, gaining invaluable skills and mentorship tailored to their artistic practice. This programme was designed to encourage artists to develop new cultural activities that engage and inspire local communities, sparking creativity throughout Calderdale.

With the support of our funders, Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council’s Culture Grants and NHS linked charity Creative Minds, New Creatives was developed to address some of the challenges and barriers that exist in the cultural sector by empowering the next generation of visual artists underrepresented by the cultural sector.

Meet our New Creatives

  • Adelle A'Asante

    During her traineeship Adelle developed an exhibition inviting participants to delve deep into the heart of cocoa farming communities in Ghana. Through a fusion of sacred oral storytelling and innovative installation art, Adelle masterfully intertwined the lived experiences of cocoa farmers with the ever-changing climate they navigate.

  • Rachel Rae

    Radix was an interactive and participatory exhibition created by Rachel Rea that explored themes around plant sciences, from microbial and visual stimuli to germinating and growing living plants.  Throughout her traineeship, Rachel learned more about the complexities of the world beneath our feet and developed an exhibition which explored the pivotal role played by soil health to each stage of our lives and the ongoing climate emergency.

  • Stevie- Leigh Sanderson

    Stevie creates therapeutic mixed media artwork, usually from recycled materials, with a cosmic theme. While exploring the many possibilities of the universe,  her work is also focused on managing, maintaining and improving mental health while saving the environment at the same time. During her traineeship Stevie staged an ambitious exhibition of her work in our gallery. She also developed and delivered a number of Junk Journaling workshops in order to encourage people to use art to maintain or improve their wellbeing.

  • Rabia Begum

    Through her traineeship, Rabia explored the patterns of genocide by investigating six countries that are currently struggling for human rights: Palestine, Sudan, Rakhine State Myanmar, Xinjiang China, Congo and Rwanda.

    Textile art, printmaking and drawing reflected the cultural heritages of the six regions and enabled experimentation for testing ideas. Rabia worked to create meaningful interactions, empathy and dialogue through her work which she staged in an impactful exhibition.