Circus performers, dance students and holographics displays brought a regional arts launch to life in West Bromwich.
Sandwell Arts Café at Sandwell College’s Central Sixth campus in New Square and Queens Square shopping centre played host to the official launch of Creative Black Country, a new Arts Council England-funded project bringing the best in high quality performance and visual arts from around the world to the region.
Dancers from Sandwell College performed 1001 Arabian Nights and ‘Sing Sing Sing’ Big Band-inspired routines, alternated with live poetry readings. The launch event also featured performances from ACE Dance & Music, Crashmat Collective Contemporary Circus, an innovative holographics display by a local artist.
Creative People and Places projects are taking place in parts of the country where people’s involvement in the arts is significantly below the national average, with the aim of increasing the likelihood of participation. The project will support local groups and communities to create their own arts activities as well as commission arts activity across Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton.
Programme director, Sajida Carr, said: “The Black Country has always been and still is a hotbed of creativity and innovation. Through this project we will celebrate the artistic excellence and creativity that is the backbone of a region that has given the world Led Zeppelin, Noddy Holder, Goldie, Frank Skinner, Julie Walters, Beverly Knight and still has so much to offer artistically and culturally.”
Sandwell College Principal Graham Pennington said: “These performances by our students and the arts organisations were absolutely magnificent. We are really pleased to be involved with Creative Black Country and our arts students add vibrancy to the college. We thank the launch sponsors for giving us this opportunity which marks the start of our ongoing relationship.”
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