News

Community XChange

Flameworks resident artist Katie Lake jetted off to Ghana back in February as part of a VSO/British Council funded Community XChange programme. One of a group of 12 from Plymouth, Katie and her peers stayed in Bolgatanga in northern Ghana where they were able to learn about Ghanaian culture whilst sharing skills and expertise with the local community as part of this exciting cross cultural programme.

During their three week stay the group shadowed local workers, visited community facilities and schools and stayed with local families. Katie was able to pass on books donated by Harrowbarrow Primary School to various youth organisations, including an orphanage, a street children education project and a number of schools in Bolgatanga. Katie’s counterpart and host was a local artist and sign writer, Simms Golo.

At the beginning of April the group’s 15 Ghanaian counterparts flew to the UK to experience life in Plymouth, shadowing their UK counterparts at various organisations including Plymouth College of Art, Devon and Cornwall Police, The Youth Service, BTCV and Plymouth Foyer.

‘A wonderful experience that I would do over and over again, but at a cooler time of year!’ Katie is now developing links with two arts organisations in Ghana; Talent Arts - set up by Simms to try and encourage literacy amongst artists and crafts workers, and the local Industrial Arts course that is attempting to run qualifications in practical skills such as basket weaving, ceramics, leather work, painting and signwriting, all with little or no equipment. Katie is trying to raise funds and establish professional links that can help both organisations develop and provide better facilities for their students - if you have any fund-raising ideas or would like to help please contact Flameworks. 

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