In March 2024, Appetite and members of our Lunch Club went on an Appetite Take Away. They ventured to Nottingham to explore and discover delicious art outside of Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme. Our Community Coordinator, Ruby Nixon, fills us in on a day packed with tasty treats.
Experiencing the vibrant arts and culture beyond Stoke-on-Trent and the Newcastle Borough is key in the community decision-making process at Appetite. Seeing the creativity of other communities across the UK is not only inspiring but also informs our local programming. With this in mind, we took our Lunch Club group on a journey to Nottingham, visiting the dynamic art scene and meeting some of its creative leaders.
Our adventure began with eager excitement at the New Art Exchange, a hub of cultural diversity and artistic expression. Stepping into the vibrant space, we were greeted by a kaleidoscope of colours, textures, and voices – a celebration of the rich tapestry of cultures that make up modern Britain.
The exhibition was created by artist Adébayo Bolaji and titled “In Praise of Beauty”. This work explored the myths of a universal beauty, encouraging reflection on the diverse interpretations of beauty and sparking conversations among our group, each member finding resonance with different pieces based on their identities and lived experiences.
After a morning filled with inspiration, we made our way to Primary, an innovative art gallery and studio space housed in a former primary school. We were greeted by Primary director, Niki, who gave us a rundown of the creative work that happens here as well as the community-led collaboration in the surrounding area.
We wandered through the corridors of Primary, encountering a diverse array of exhibitions and installations featuring experimental multimedia projects and immersive sensory experiences, each work invited us to question, explore, and reimagine the world around us.
Following the gallery spaces, we were warmly welcomed into the Small Food Bakery, where a friendly baker treated us to samples of freshly baked bread. Some lucky families even left with complimentary focaccia loaves!
To round off our day, we visited the green space opposite Primary, which is home to a collaborative playground created with input from neighbouring families and children. As the young members of our group explored the swings and slides, the adults took a moment to reflect on the inspiring journey we had been on.
Looking back on our day in Nottingham, there was a sense of inspiration around being able to immerse ourselves in such diverse artistic projects and places, reminding us all of the potential of creativity to enrich our own local communities.
Here’s what our participants had to say about their experiences in Nottingham:
“Great company, excellent organisation, contemporary art”
“It was our first time leaving Stoke and it was a great experience”
“Thank you very much to the organisers of this trip, we had a good rest and enjoyed the contemporary art and the trip itself. Thank you to everyone who was with us today!”
