Video now available to watch.
In 2022, Buckinghamshire Culture embarked on two co-commision projects as part of the Navigating the New Normal Programme, funded by the Rothchild Foundation.
Project partner in the project ‘Homeless’ were Aylesbury Homeless Action and Wycombe Homeless Connection.
Multi award-winning photographer Craig Easton has been working with Aylesbury Homeless Action Group and Wycombe Homeless Connection. All project partners were keen to share the powerful stories in a new way, putting the individuals at the heart of the work – all of whom have had a very difficult time during Covid-19. Craig was co-commissioned by AHAG, WHC and Buckinghamshire Culture to work with individuals to give them a voice and to raise awareness and encourage the public to view homeless people with greater insight and understanding.
Alongside the photographs, each individual’s personal story has been sensitively captured in text and audio, highlighting the often complex circumstances that have led to these situations.
The second project resulted in a nature inspired wall installation that will be on permanent display in Stoke Mandeville A&E department. Project partner were Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust.
The artwork for the project was created through three workshops led by artist Kerry Lemon and her mentee, BNU fine art student Ella Woodcock. Patients from the National Spinal Injuries Centre (NSIC), Care of the Elderly and the Children’s wards, as well as staff from across the Trust were invited to create colourful works of art inspired by, and using materials from, trees in the local area and particularly those in Horatio’s Garden at the NSIC. Their creations were then curated by Kerry for the final art installation.
The video has interviews with representatives of the project partner, the artists and gives an idea of how each of them benefited from the project. It also gives an idea of the concept of co-commissions and draws the line to the importance of similar projects in the context of the work of Buckinghamshire Culture and the implementation of the Cultural Strategy.
Buckinghamshire Culture 