Community Stories Research
We’re inviting Balsall Heath residents from all walks of life to share with us your real-life stories -
stories from the past or present, from the everyday to the extraordinary.
This collection of stories will act as a stimulus for The GAP to create thoughtful new artworks that reflect the lives of local people. These artworks will be produced in a variety of forms - theatre, spoken word, visual art, etc - for community audiences to share and enjoy at The GAP, as part of our Arts Council England funded project 2020 VISION: Towards a Culture of Theatre and Story in Balsall Heath.
What we’re looking for:
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What stories can you tell about life in Balsall Heath?
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Any unforgettable encounters from your life that have always stuck with you?
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Is there a story you love to tell your grandchildren, friends or strangers?
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How has your everyday life changed during the COVID-19 pandemic?
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Does anything about the current crisis remind you of previous moments in your life?
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We’re particularly interested in hearing from people who’ve been living alone during the lockdown (but not exclusively)
These are just a few ideas to get you thinking... we're open to hearing your stories on other topics too.
How will you collect my story?
You will be invited to share your story in an informal telephone conversation with one of our team who will guide you through the interview with open-ended questions. We’ll record the audio, write up summaries and add these to our Community Stories Research collection where it may be used as artistic stimulus.
If a telephone interview isn’t for you, we’re open to receiving your stories in written or pre-recorded audio form. There’s also the option to have your story recorded anonymously if you prefer.
Please note at this moment in time we are only able to conduct telephone interviews in English - we'll be looking for ways to broaden this out to include other languages in the future.
Interested in sharing your story, or know of someone who might be? Want to find out more?
Let’s have a chat!
Email ella@thegapartsproject.co.uk to express your interest.