Intercultural Roots Awarded 100,000 Innovate UK Grant For Ecogpx Launchpad


(MENAFN- market Press Release) July 3, 2024 9:07 am - Intercultural Roots for Public Health, a not-for-profit charity dedicated to advancing arts for health and social change, has been granted 100,000 by Innovate UK to launch the EcoGPX initiative in Coventry and Warwickshire.

EcoGPX® is designed to engage deeply with local communities in Coventry, Nuneaton and Bedworth, identified as some of the UK's most deprived areas, from May to October 2024. The project will partner with local organisations, artists, and practitioners in creative, cultural, and ecological fields to facilitate positive impacts and promote sustainable development.

"The inclusive community engagement process of EcoGPX® reveals the diverse characteristics of Coventry, Nuneaton, and Bedworth by nurturing relationships that are both well-established and emerging. Coventry, for instance, is not only the confluence of the two rivers, but also a place where many cultures meet, and where ancient and new come together. We are honoured to hold the space through the project for communities across these regions and to listen deeply to the city with a felt-sensed approach. During the“residency” we will work with the local artists through an eco-arts lens, to respond to the needs and aspirations of people and places." said Maryam Safe, Creative Liaison Manager of EcoGPX®.

"There are more and more digital apps that explore relationships to place, but most of them still assume that the user is an isolated individual. We are excited to build on the established work of Intercultural Roots in developing new digital tools that are oriented towards communities and social networks from the beginning," said Ben Spatz, EcoGPX® Creative Director and Reader in Media and Performance at University of Huddersfield.

Key components of EcoGPX® include community engagement through active listening, curating and documenting eco-artists' responses at local sites, creating an interface for community interaction with artistic content through interactive media-mapping, and integrating an innovative sustainability model to support local artists and community groups.

Open Call - Wanted! Local Arts, Creative, Cultural and Ecology Practitioners
All movers, shakers and makers who would like to make meaningful play are welcome to apply on Interculral Roots' website to be part of the EcoGPX®'s first eco-art residency in Coventry taking place July 17-21, 2024.. Applications are particularly welcome from people who are often under-represented including, for example, people from Black and ethnically minoritised groups, LGBTQIA+ communities, people with disabilities and chronic health conditions, older people, and people from working class backgrounds. This is a paid opportunity with expenses.

Intercultural Roots aims to showcase the successful implementation of EcoGPX® in Coventry and Warwickshire, inspiring other regional organisations and local authorities, and to offer sponsorship opportunities for businesses to embrace ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) and CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) initiatives. The project underscores the transformative power of arts and culture in driving significant change and advancing sustainability initiatives on a broader level.

About Innovate UK: 'Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, is creating a better future by inspiring, involving, and investing in businesses developing life-changing innovations. We provide targeted sectors with expertise, facilities, and funding to test, demonstrate, and evolve their ideas, driving UK productivity and economic growth. Join our network and communities of innovators to realise the potential of your ideas and accelerate business growth. Innovate UK: inspiring business innovation.'

About Intercultural Roots: Intercultural Roots for Public Health leverages the arts for health and social change including community empowerment and environmental action. Through innovative projects and collaborations, Intercultural Roots strives to advance inclusive creativity and care, and promote sustainable development.

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