The Great Stirchley Sketchbook Circle

The Great Stirchley Sketchbook Circle was an ambitious six-month project based in Stirchley Library, funded by Beyond Birmingham 2022, aiming to engage people of all ages and sectors of the community, seeking to nurture a collective sense of pride in Stirchley's cultural heritage through the power of art.

Through art workshops enriched by local artists and storytellers, participants will celebrate the cultural identity of Stirchley from shared starting points.

​Comprising a sketchbook circle, artist workshops, takeaway packs, family storytelling and craft sessions, the project encourages maximum participation, fostering intergenerational connections and community cohesion.
The project culminates in a community exhibition and a co-produced and locally printed cultural Almanac of Stirchley, featuring the artistic contributions and stories of the community.
Coming soon to community bookshelves in and around Stirchley, and available to view in Stirchley Library from Friday 12th April - reference copies of The Great Stirchley Sketchbook Circle Almanac, documenting the project as it happened month by month,  including sketchbook artworks chosen by the artists.

The Great Stirchley Sketchbook Circle in Numbers...

595 Participants 

Three local artists delivered workshops to forty five participants in Stirchley Library.
Two local storytellers delighted families with storytelling and craft sessions with a total of  eighty five participants in Stirchley Library.
One hundred and thirty six participants attended nine Saturday sketchbooking workshops at Stirchley Library
Nine themed moodboards inspired thirty eight sketchbookers taking part in the sketchbook circle over six months.
Three hundred and forty two sketchbook swaps were made via Stirchley Library!
Two hundred and forty Takeaway Packs with activity sheets and art materials were collected by visitors to Stirchley Library.
Fifty one people attended the exhibition launch

Quotes from participants

“I noticed how (my partner) added to some of my art pages, and how much inspiration it gave me. It was only near the end of the project that I decided to add to some of the pages she had done on my book, and I loved the collaboration.”

“(I enjoyed) the anticipation of seeing what wonderful creative thing has been added to my book, and the opportunity to respond to it with my art.”

“It gave me a nudge to try unfamiliar techniques, as I was inspired by others’ work, e.g.. with lino which I thought wasn’t for me, but I tried again after some beautiful examples were added to my book, so I gave (lino) another go with great results.”

“(I enjoyed) spending intentional time creating artwork, being a part of a community project.”

​"Initially I wasn’t too sure about this sketchbook project when I first started. But I found that I enjoyed that my partner style was so different from mine. From her free and loose style, it gave me ‘permission’ to just play and create and that anything goes. Normally I am much more into sketching, being neat and ‘controlled’. I found the Saturday workshops enabled me in my new creative processes also. Near the end of the project, l got the courage to collaborate
on some of the pages that my partner had started, and I loved it!"
“It was well outside my comfort zone - good I think - and I enjoyed completing the sketchbook. It was lovely to see other people’s work in sketchbooks as the project progressed, getting ideas and responding to other people’s work even if they weren’t my sketchbook partner.”

“(I enjoyed the) excitement of the exchange and getting to know my partners.”

“I’d love to take part again. I thought that the two/three week hand-ins were good. The themes were great and reflected the seasons and current events.”
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“I wasn’t sure about the project when I first started, the more I got into it the more I enjoyed it, and loved creating in it.”

"It was like opening a special, personalised gift on
changeover day. What was going to be there? How many pages of deliciousness? How did they do that? Sharing art in this way felt scary at times, and nerve-wracking, and brave, but also magical. It inspired me and nudged me out of my comfort zone by responding to someone else’s creativity in new ways. I’ll miss it now it’s finished!"

Download visual resources from The Great Stirchley Sketchbook Circle: 

Download the Green Man
File Size: 977 kb
File Type: pdf
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Download the food theme
File Size: 1912 kb
File Type: pdf
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Download the Hope theme
File Size: 511 kb
File Type: pdf
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Download the Journeys theme
File Size: 2823 kb
File Type: pdf
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make_an_elastic_band_sketchbook.pdf
File Size: 384 kb
File Type: pdf
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green_man__1_.pdf
File Size: 977 kb
File Type: pdf
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paper_star___snowflake__1_.pdf
File Size: 1914 kb
File Type: pdf
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make_a_chinese_new_year_dragon__1_.pdf
File Size: 1074 kb
File Type: pdf
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Download the Midwinter theme
File Size: 2720 kb
File Type: pdf
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enchantment_1.pdf
File Size: 1609 kb
File Type: pdf
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Download the Organic theme
File Size: 2261 kb
File Type: pdf
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Download the New Year theme
File Size: 951 kb
File Type: pdf
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Download the dragon theme
File Size: 2033 kb
File Type: pdf
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