Imagining belonging

Real Time is working with partners to deliver an innovative digital arts project exploring the Oxford Rd, as part of Reading High Street Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ) initiative.

 

 

The project will provide vulnerable participants, particularly the homeless, adults and young people with mental health issues, and young people not in employment training or education (NEETs), with the opportunity to use digital media, art and creative storytelling to explore the heritage action zone.

 

Clive Robertson, Creative Director of Real Time, said:

'Understanding the heritage of where you live is a key factor to believing you are part of that community. Many marginalised people often feel excluded, Real Time targets its work to those with fewer opportunities and is pleased to be able to work in partnership with the HSHAZ to deliver a project that will use creative collaborative digital media to engage with some of the most disadvantaged people living on the Oxford Rd. Imagining and sharing new stories of engagement and belonging.'

 

Real Time has developed, through its mental health project Open Mind, ways of engaging creatively with people with mental health issues. This includes using participatory video techniques to explore the local environment, discover stories and share memories of people and events.  Participants supported by Real Time can then explore their creativity through drawing, painting, animation, photography and digital imaging to create their own content.

 

This project is part of the four-year-long High Streets Heritage Action Zones’ Cultural Programme, led by Historic England, in partnership with Arts Council England and the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The Cultural Programme aims to make our high streets more attractive, engaging and vibrant places for people to live, work and spend time. The Council’s wider High Streets Heritage Action Zone programme will run for 3 years until 31 March 2024. The project aims to breathe new life into the radial high street areas of Reading off of the immediate town centre.