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Public Projects

Cultural Citizens

Each year we recruit up to five Cultural Citizens to feedback on their experiences of our exhibitions, projects and events, reflect on what we do and help us develop new ways to open out the organisation to different audiences, communities and perspectives.

The 2021–22 Cultural Citizens are Jane Thakordin, Gugan Gil and Marcus Keating. You can find out more about them – and everyone else who makes Eastside Projects happen HERE.

The 2020–21 Cultural Citizens were Selina Sagnia, …kruse, Anam Zafar, Toqueer Ahmed Quyyam and Carla Busuttil.

Here’s what they had to say about their experience of working with us …

“I have really valued the opportunity to contribute to the Cultural Citizens group and to be a voice for the neurodivergent/disabled community at Eastside Projects. I’m very impressed that Eastside Projects created this group and I would love to see more arts organisations welcoming the public in in this way. It’s been a very rewarding experience because I have felt listened to and have seen Eastside Projects make actual changes based on the Cultural Citizens’ recommendations.” … kruse

“After volunteering at Eastside Projects for many years, it felt exciting to take on this advisory role. It was a great chance to reflect my experiences – as a volunteer, visitor, South Asian, and art enthusiast, rather than a professional artist – to Ruth and Gavin and help shape the future of EP. Each Cultural Citizen brought a different perspective to the table, and all ideas and opinions were welcome.” Anam Zafar

“Being a Cultural Citizen gives you the opportunity to open your horizon to different perspectives, and learn new insightful things, contribute to inclusion in the arts, working with like-minded people where imagination, creativity and individuality is highly valued.”  Toqueer Ahmed Quyyam

The Cultural Citizens experience what we do in different ways – they visit exhibitions, participate in offsite projects, attend talks and events or experience what we do through our website. They may like what we do and how we do it, or wish we did things differently. Or they might simply care about culture in Birmingham and have ideas about what an organisation like Eastside Projects could, or should, do to support the city. They are a range of voices, from different backgrounds, who support us to develop.

They attend three meetings across the year to talk things through, share reflections and feedback to the Eastside Projects team about their experience and are paid £50 for their contribution to each meeting.