In reaction to recent foodbank crises across the UK, Manchester arts collective Get It Done are committed to using their platform to fundraise and raise awareness for our local foodbanks. We’re planning an event for mid-December (which we think will be great coinciding with Christmas and the financial pressures this puts on families), which is set to be a protest; a series of creative arts workshops and talks from prominent social change makerswho can inspire us with ways to combat the surrounding issues, culminating in a party/exhibition showing off all the work created in the workshops, inviting other socially engaged artists to show their work as well. We want to make a point; that we're not happy with the way communities are being currently underserved, and want to channel this in our very DIY style.
What we'll deliver:
- Fundraising for local foodbanks during the Christmas period
- Provide creative arts workshops to a wider audience
- Provide important talks on the surrounding issues by influential social change makers
- Be able to give local, deserving families a better Christmas
Why it's a great idea:
Not only does this project focus on the very real issues of austerity, but it also focusses on issues surrounding the arts. The visual arts scene of Manchester is unaccessible to lots of people, many events can be intimidating and unwelcoming. Get It Done provides an antidote to this, creating a relaxing environment where people can feel comfortable to create, perform, participate in arts. We facilitate arts to a wider audience and provide platforms for young Manchester creatives. Issues of austerity are also a very important focus. We were recently disgusted by an article by The Independent: 'Starving eight-year-old forced to steal tomato sauce sachets to make soup because he was so hungry’. We're all about activism, and knew we couldn't sit still amongst this. In addition we understand the financial pressures of Christmas on families, and want to be able to provide support during this time through foodbanks. Combine these two issues and we've got a pretty solid case we think.
Steps to get it done:
- Buying materials for creative workshops
- Approaching key speakers and social change makers to be part of our event
- Producing a programme of engaging creative workshops and talks for the public
- Working collaboratively with partners (e.g. Manchester Central Foodbank, the venue)
- Post event - working towards finding a more permanent base for Get It Done
Get It Done is currently an unregistered business, and we don't have any streams of funding. All of our previous events have been bootstrap funded (having sold merchandise, ticketed events etc), but all our proceeds from this event will be going to the foodbanks. We're looking to raise money for materials for our creative workshops and to be able to get the speakers we want to participate. We also want to make Get It Done into a sustainable organisation (We are soon to be registering as a CIC), being able to carry on sparking social change, encouraging creativity and providing platforms and networks for young artists in Manchester.
