Reimagine Stroud’s Tomorrow is a project that uses the arts and imagination to help build our future communities
This project is being collaboratively run between Transition Stroud and Stroud Imagines. Our main event as part of this project was held outside the Sub Rooms on 28th Sept 2024, featuring interactive sessions, free kids activities, and food. However the project is still live, with other events and activities due to be held in Cashes Green, Chapel St in central Stroud, Nailsworth and Wotton.
Each part of this project creatively engages with different communities across Stroud District, inviting us to reimagine a better future for ourselves and our neighbours. As the project gathers ideas and response from different people and communities, we will work together to publicly display our work, and see what can be done to help turn our imaginations into reality. So far we have been connecting by . .
- Exploring new stories of the future through creativity… making and talking with local artist Pip Crosley in Nailsworth and Cashes Green
- Growing our Futures, using a fun three part mini-workshop of Affirmation, Imagination and Invitation into better shared futures with Alister Somerville
- Exploring Self-rule: an exploration of participatory democracy and collective power with the Stroud Area Assembly
- Imagining a Stroud that is connected for and rich in biodiversity with Stroud Valley’s Project
- Re-imagining our town-centres with Periscope by creatively re-inhabiting empty shop spaces with new and imaginative uses, both realistic and fantastical!
- Sharing wishes and inspiration on the Wild Acres’ community tree, which is touring the District, through Berkeley, Stroud, Wotton and Nailsworth.
- Envisaging the development of a safe, natural swimming spot to encourage swimming outdoors in nature all year round with Stroud Waters
- Reimagining our neglected communal spaces with the Chapel Street community cafe by exploring local butterflies, moths and poetry.
- Being uplifted by Queer Voices Gloucestershire, a harmonious celebration of unity, diversity, and musical expression.
- Finding out how to Take the Jump: and how one small action can make a big difference.
We’re also working with Creative Sustainability to provide activities and discussion space for younger people at their John St venue in Stroud, and have worked with local experts from Nailsworth and Dursley to deliver the inspirational workshops below.
Re-imagining Stroud – an experiential imaginarium
Monday 16th September, 7-9pm
“If our minds can conceive it, and our hearts can believe it, we can achieve it.”
A chance to bathe in imagining the positive future we’d like to see, and what our town and community could become.
Tickets are free but booking is essential so we can plan for numbers.
Leading During Times of Change
Friday 20th September, 10-12am
A free wellbeing workshop aimed at community leaders and organisers, held at Wild Acres in Berkeley.
Practical tools and psychological models for understanding change and exploring the key skills leaders need to enable change.
Tickets are free but booking is essential so we can plan for numbers.
How to take part
We welcome ideas for support, collaborations and activities for the day, as well as events and workshops you might like to run beforehand that can feed into this event. We are particularly interested in working with communities who might not usually get engaged with these sorts of conversations, and are able to fund some activities that are designed to support people who might otherwise struggle to attend or be involved.
Primary Contact: Charlie Mitchell stroudimagines@gmail.com
Apply TO BE A Community Partner
We have now closed applications for funding but are always open to new collaborations. If you want to chat to us about your ideas please email Charlie on stroudimagines@gmail.com.
This is a collaboratively run project between Transition Stroud and Stroud Imagines. We have been generously funded by The National Lottery Community Fund, distributed by Transition Together, to run this project. Thanks to National Lottery players for making this possible.