Flags For Hope

ABOUT THE PROJECT

We teamed up with Sonder Radio to deliver creative writing and storytelling workshops in 3 local Care Homes in Tameside to connect with elder members of our community, gather stories, ideas, and images around the theme of ‘hope’.

We then took the stories to our in-house artists and translated them into large-scale hand painted silk flags expressing the experiences of elder residents who’ve been acutely isolated through the pandemic. These flags are touring to the grounds of the care homes in summer 2021 as beautiful, powerful, site-specific installations which highlight the creativity and resilience in our communities.

This project demonstrates to care home residents, staff and elder members of our community that they have not been forgotten and that their voices, and creativity, still matter.

STORIES

Listen to the stories from all 3 care homes as you walk around the flags.

Use the hashtag #flagsforhope and tag @cabasacarnivalarts on social media.
We would love to get your feedback!

Sonder Radio · Flags for Hope

Featuring stories from: Barbara, Marie & Mary (Daisy Nook). Eva, Marge & Christine (Sandon House). Sean, Elizabeth & Joyce (Stamford Court)

We also had digital submissions around the theme of hope which went into these flags, from artist family members to people following on our social media.

These flags are our combined response to hope.

FLAGS FOR HOPE

DOCUMENTARY FILM

We documented the whole journey from interviewing the residents of the care homes to the batiking and dyeing process, as well as the install. We hear from artists and volunteers about this beautiful project taking place in a challenging time.

Film by John Grey.

PEOPLE POWER

These flags wouldn’t have been possible without the hard work and dedication of our community of volunteers. 27 people over the course of 2 weeks in June/July 2021 came into our studio at The Vale in Mossley to wax and paint our 6 flags to bring the stories alive.

> 36 meters of hand woven Indian silk
> 5 artists
> 104 hours to wax and paint
> 27 volunteers from Tameside, Oldham and Manchester.

Flag Creation Photos by: Dan Jones & Lance Walker.

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

SONDER RADIO

Our partners Sonder Radio will be facilitating these creative chats in Care Home settings and asking residents to share their stories. Sonder Radio is a station catering for elders living within a care environment and independently in the community. Sonder Radio was established in 2016 in response to some of their founder's own personal experiences of relatives living within care environments and with conditions such as dementia. We're excited to be working with this great organisation.

sonderradio.com