Sandwell College was one of the buildings to be lit up with inspiring messages of hope – aimed at sending a message to our future selves.
The Message to Me in 2022 campaign saw buildings including Lightwoods House in Smethwick lit up with messages including “hugs”, “friends”, “joy” and “laughter” – all chosen by local people.
The messages were what participants wanted to remember about these tough times in the future. The campaign has been run by Sandwell Council’s Discover Sandwell team involving local artists and production crews who have been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic. It has been funded by a Culture Recovery Grant from Arts Council England.
Sandwell Council’s Deputy Leader Councillor Maria Crompton said: “The COVID-19 pandemic has been and continues to be really tough on people from all over Sandwell. Rather than dwelling on the challenges and negatives from the past year, this project helps people to think about the future.”
Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for inclusive economic growth, Councillor Danny Millard, added: “A Message to Me in 2022 is aimed at encouraging the community to think about what they would like to tell themselves in a year’s time once things have changed and some sort of normality is hoped to have resumed.”
Head of Creative Industries at Sandwell College, Michelle King, said: “We are very happy to support the ‘Message to Me in 2022’ campaign in partnership with Discover Sandwell. We know that the Covid-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on people across the borough, particularly for students who have had to face unprecedented challenges and adapt to a completely new way of learning. We are so proud of the determination and resilience they have shown and the support they have been given from parents, siblings, family members and carers. This campaign is a fantastic opportunity for the community to come together and look ahead to the future. We want to encourage people across Sandwell to share their learnings, lessons and messages of hope.”
The messages were also projected onto Wednesbury Leisure Centre and the Big House in Oldbury and will be displayed on banners in parks and open spaces over the coming weeks. To find out more and to add a message of hope, go to www.discoversandwell.co.uk/messagetome
