Introducing India Birtwisle (@indiabillustration )
Today India is delivering a workshop in partnership with @gazebotheatreuk and Yam From Here. She is a diverse arts practitioner from Wolverhampton who uses visual arts to connect with audiences.
India will lead the group through a doll-making activity, focusing on their own personal and family journeys
India's "doll" creation workshop is inspired by her grandmother's experience of migrating from India to Wolverhampton in the 1960s, navigating language barriers, cultural expectations and isolation.
Stay tuned to find out more!
#heritagefunduk @heritagefunduk #blackcountry #heritage
What do journeys mean to you?
This Thursday (14 May), artist-educator India Birtwisle (@indiabillustration ) will deliver a workshop in partnership with Yam From Here at Gazebo Theatre in Bilston. This workshop will explore journeys, migration, memory and identity through the creation of a personalised “doll” and its packaging.
Together, participants will reflect on the journeys people take, across countries, cultures, and communities, and the physical and emotional belongings they carry with them.
Using collage, text, and miniature object-making, participants will create a doll, accompanying objects and the packaging. The dolls clothing, objects, and packaging become its “voice”, expressing themes of home, belonging, resilience, and identity.
This workshop is open only to community members of Gazebo Theatre (@gazebotheatreuk ), but you'll shortly see some of their artistic creations on our social media and upcoming exhibitions!
Yam From Here is a two-year project delivered by EWA and funded by Heritage Lottery Fund.
#heritage #blackcountry #yamfromhere #art @heritagefunduk
Introducing India Birtwisle (@indiabillustration )
This Thursday, India will deliver a workshop in partnership with @gazebotheatreuk and Yam From Here. She is a diverse arts practitioner from Wolverhampton who uses visual arts to connect with audiences.
India will lead the group through a doll-making activity, focusing on their own personal and family journeys
India's "doll" creation workshop is inspired by her grandmother's experience of migrating from India to Wolverhampton in the 1960s, navigating language barriers, cultural expectations and isolation.
Stay tuned to find out more!
#heritagefunduk @heritagefunduk #blackcountry #heritage
More workshop pictures incoming!
On the 12th of April, the Yam From Here Team joined Maya Patel and Gabrielle Guy for the third in their series of three workshops at Wolverhampton Art Gallery.
In keeping with Yam From Here's titular themes of Home, Journey and Community, this workshop focused on 'community' and what it means to be part of a community.
Maya led the group through a sewing activity, using items brought in by participants and Gabrielle took portrait images, utilising the participants' associations with community as a central theme.
To see the artworks produced in this workshop in person, keep updated with exhibition announcements!
Workshop pictures incoming!
On the 22nd of February, the Yam from Here team joined Vicky Roden at Oak House Museum in Sandwell for the second workshop with us.
In this workshop, Vicky led the group through a resin-casting activity in the historic 16th century yeoman's house. The group' produced their own resin casts reflecting on Yam From Here's titular themes of home, journeys and community.
To catch a glimpse of the finished product, stay tuned for updates about upcoming exhibitions in 2027!
#yamfromhere #art #blackcountry #heritage
This Friday (01/05/2026), the @yamfromhere team will be at St. Paul's Church in Walsall in partnership with Sunita Bhatti.
Sunita's Blossom Workshops offer a mindful and creative approach to mental wellbeing. The workshops invite you to slow down, breath, and reconnect with the present moment through simple, accessible creative activities.
By fousing on mindful techniques and art-making, participants learn to quiet busy thoughts, reduce stress and find calm in self-expression.
This event is open to the public, if you would like to join, but particpants should know that the venue is a dedicated space for women.
For members, participation is free and for non-members participation is £3.
Website - /creativewellbeing/services-2
Do you have a story to share? We would love to hear from you!
We are looking for people across the Black Country who would be interested in being interviewed as part of our new oral history project.
Whether you have only just moved to the Black Country or have lived here all of your life, we want to hear from you!
We are documenting the experiences of different generations and communities who have made the Black Country their home.
Why participate?
🔷Your story will be included in an oral history book, which will be held in libraries across the region.
🔷You will receive a digital audiofile of the interview and a headshot by a professional photographer.
🔷You will receive a £10 gift voucher.
What happens in the interview?
🔷The interview will take place at a location of your choosing.
🔷Each interview will be between 30 minutes and 1 hour.
🔷You do not have to answer all the questions. It is up to you what you wish to talk about.
How can I get involved?
🔷To fill in a quick survey, you can scan the QR code on the leaflet, follow the link in @yamfromhere 's bio or follow this link - /jfe/form/SV_0whciCKOxUfLkH4
🔷To speak to one of our team, you can contact us directly on Email: [email protected] and on landline: 0121 740 0824.
Yam From Here is a two-year project delivered by @ewa.cic and funded by @heritagefunduk .
#yamfromhere #ewa #migration #blackcountry #art #workshops #exhibitions #oralhistory
Our final @yamfromhere workshop this Sunday 12th April at @wolvesartandculture 🧵✨
This one’s all about Community! Come and share your story through photography & sewing, what does ‘community’ mean to you. 🤍
🎟️ Free tickets via Eventbrite, link in bio
📍 Wolverhampton Art Gallery
⏰ 12-3pm (drop ins welcome)
#YamFromHere #CommunityArt #BlackCountry #TextileArt
This Saturday (4th April), the @yamfromhere team will be returning to Dudley CoLab assisting artists @abigailvillarroel.art and @magdalena_jasiak in the second of their short series of art workshops.
This workshop will explore Yam From Here's titular themes of Home, Journeys and Communities, through sharing a variety of artistic practices, including painting and weaving, taking inspiration from Dudley CoLab's bioregional counter-mapping practice!
We're looking forward to taking part in the lively social calendar of @colabdudley and seeing the artistic outcome of the workshops!
Yam From Here is a two-year project funded by the @heritagefunduk and delivered by the @ewa.cic .
#Heritage #YamFromHere #heritagefunduk #music #blackcountry
On Monday 9th March, the Yam From Here team held a fantastic workshop in collaboration with Take Your Time CIC (@taketimeforyou_cic ) and Oak House Museum (@sandwellmuseums ) and Jatinder Ghataora (@artofjsg ).
Together the group explored questions surrounding Black Country identity, community building and home making while exploring the grounds of the 400 year old Grade I listed building, Oak House Museum. The workshop concluded with a watercolour painting activity led by Jatinder.
We're looking forward to exhibiting the artistic creations in the future!
#YamFromHere #heritage #blackcountry #heritagefunduk
