Kind Futures: Cultivating Socially Engaged Artists in Cumbria
KIND Futures is a year-long artist development programme in collaboration with Everyone Here. We worked with 13 artists to help them develop their practice and support them in creating projects with local communities. The artists received development training with Unfinished Business (a cross-arts company) before commencing work with local communities.
Each week, KIND Future artists participated in online workshops, where they were challenged to work outside their comfort zones and encouraged to explore new and exciting ideas. The artists have started forming their collectives, creating for their futures and the KIND project.
Where Are They Now?
The 2023/24 Kind Futures cohort continues to impact Whitehaven and beyond. The program’s graduates have formed a vibrant network to share ideas and find new opportunities, with six now involved in larger-scale commissions with Rosehill. This ongoing collaboration has extended to new partnerships with organisations like the Florence Arts Centre, The National Trust, and Everyone Here. We’re excited to see how this supportive community of artists continues to benefit and inspire our local area.
Kind Futures Spotlight: Anne Blankson-Hemans
One standout member of the Kind Futures program is Anne Blankson-Hemans, a former IT professional turned fine artist. Having primarily worked in a studio setting, Anne joined Kind Futures to gain confidence in socially engaged art and broaden her practice. Since then, she’s seen incredible growth, stepping out of her comfort zone and finding new opportunities with Rosehill and beyond. Today, Anne is the artist-in-residence at Time to Change CIC’s Kells Community Hub, developing a creative project with local service users. Reflecting on her journey, Anne says, “Whenever I think of Kind Futures and Rosehill, I think of green shoots… Nothing has four walls around it, and there’s boundless creativity there.”
Kind Futures 2025
We’re thrilled to announce that Kind Futures will open for new applicants in 2025! If you’re a Cumbrian-based creative interested in socially engaged art, stay tuned for details coming in April 2025.
