graftcollaborativecic

The Rockery is Ready! Help us raise Mental Health Awareness in Armley…

So despite the lockdown setbacks, we are very excited to announce our PLAYGROUND: Exploring Mental Health Awareness project is set up and ready for the community to use! Interplay Theatre in Armley have allowed us to use their outdoor garden space to build a bench and rockery for everyone in Armley to use for mindfulness,Continue reading “The Rockery is Ready! Help us raise Mental Health Awareness in Armley…”

Grafters Space: Interview with Maddie Fleming

As part of Mental Health Awareness Month, we are asking creatives and residents in Armley and the wider West Leeds area to share their experiences and journeys with mental health difficulties. Maddie Fleming is an multifaceted creative, a keen artist and graduate in English and Drama, who has very generously agreed to open up andContinue reading “Grafters Space: Interview with Maddie Fleming”

New Grafter! Meet our latest team member…

We are very excited to announce that we have a new member joining our board as a director of the company for 2020/21. Sophie Warner is a Leeds-based creative, illustrator (Sophaluna Studio) and current student at Leeds Arts Univeristy. We are pleased to be growing our team, and are glad to have them onboard toContinue reading “New Grafter! Meet our latest team member…”

Grafters Space: Interview with Jack Collins

As part of Mental Health Awareness Month, we are asking creatives and residents in Armley and the wider West Leeds area to share their experiences and journeys with mental health difficulties. Jack Collins is a poet, spoken word artists, writer, educator and host of ‘Spoken Word + Other Stuff’ at Hyde Park Book Club asContinue reading “Grafters Space: Interview with Jack Collins”

GRAFTERS SPACE: A New Open Network for Creatives and Communities in Leeds

Hard graft is at the centre of our ethos as a company, and we know from our own journeys into the creative industries just how much work, pain and sleep-deprivation goes into developing and maintaining successful creative or cultural projects. Here at Graft, we believe that open, honest and unusual collaborations are the way forwardContinue reading “GRAFTERS SPACE: A New Open Network for Creatives and Communities in Leeds”

PLAYGROUND: Exploring Mental Health Awareness in Armley… with a rockery…

It’s Mental Health Awareness Month in October, and we Grafters are launching a brand new ‘PLAYGROUND‘ project in Armley to exploring how our community can tackle isolation, grief and loss by coming together! 1 in 4 people experience difficulties with their mental health at some point in their lives, but despite this, we often sufferContinue reading “PLAYGROUND: Exploring Mental Health Awareness in Armley… with a rockery…”

New Grafter! Meet our latest team member…

We are very excited to announce that we have a new member joining our board as a director of the company for 2020/21. Ellie Harrington is a Leeds-based creative, and one of the artists who helped to design our free activity pack for young people during lockdown. Now they are turning their passion and skillsContinue reading “New Grafter! Meet our latest team member…”

PLAYGROUND: Exploring Armley Further!

With the success of our first PLAYGROUND throughout lockdown, we here at Graft are excited to announce we are expanding the project further! Leeds Inspired have awarded us a grant of £1,200 to develop a website for all things Armley, a hub where you can explore local heritage, stories and opportunities to connect with ourContinue reading “PLAYGROUND: Exploring Armley Further!”

Being Black Allies: How Community Arts Organisations Can Empower Others…

Yesterday, myself and Liam had the amazing opportunity to meet up and network with other creatives from across the city for the first time since lockdown began. With all of us socially distanced at Assembly House, we had an amazing five hour conversation, facilitated by the incredible Marvina Newton, Founder and CEO of Angel ofContinue reading “Being Black Allies: How Community Arts Organisations Can Empower Others…”

PLAYGROUND: Exploring Armley

When I moved to Armley in 2018, I knew nothing about the area. Over the past two-years I have explored and discovered so much about this amazing place, from its history and industrial heritage, the wealth of individuals who have lived and worked here, and the community I am now proud to be part ofContinue reading “PLAYGROUND: Exploring Armley”