Living Canvas

Stories transformed into art, music and conversation.

Living Canvas is a co-creation programme where participants share stories, explore creativity and turn lived experiences into collaborative art, poetry, music and performance.

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See Living Canvas In Action

Living Canvas Neuro held at Wednesbury Library, October 2025

Living canvas near
A diverse group of people standing together for a photo at an indoor event, with some holding small artwork and guitars, and a display of paintings on the table in front of them.
Three people sit at a table engaging in an arts and crafts activity. The table holds various bottles of paint, brushes, and other art supplies. Behind them is a window with black bars, a white wall with colorful abstract art, and visible brickwork. One person is looking at their phone while the others are focused on their projects.

Caroline Alfred, Performing at the Living canvas wednesbury event 2025

Group of people holding up their painted artworks in an indoor art workshop or gallery, with painting supplies on a table in front of them.

Living Canvas Programmes

Living Canvas is a creative co-creation programme that transforms stories, experiences and conversations into art, music, poetry and shared experiences. By bringing people together through creativity, the programme creates spaces for expression, connection and collaboration while celebrating the voices, cultures and experiences that make our communities unique.

Originally developed as a community arts experience, Living Canvas has evolved into a family of programmes designed to serve different communities, settings and needs while remaining rooted in the same belief: that creativity has the power to bring people together and create meaningful change.

A woman with curly hair and a black headband is standing at a table, painting on a canvas with watercolor paints in a classroom or art studio. Multiple people are sitting around the table, some with braided hair, engaged in art activities. The room has large windows with brown blinds, yellow walls, and a green tiled wainscot.

Living Canvas Community

Creative storytelling sessions for communities, libraries and cultural spaces.

Living Canvas Youth

Workshops for young people using art, music, photography and storytelling.

Living Canvas Neuro

Inclusive creative sessions designed for neurodivergent participants.

Living Canvas Care

Creative wellbeing experiences for older people and care settings.

Living Canvas Artists

Collaboration, showcases and development opportunities for emerging creatives.

Living Canvas Schools

Creative learning experiences for schools, colleges and youth organisations.

Upcoming Events

  • Living Canvas: Atelier 9 (First gathering)

    Saturday 11 July 2026
    5:00PM – 10:00PM

    This exclusive rooftop experience brings together the artists, photographers, designers, musicians, storytellers, collaborators, supporters and friends who have contributed to the creative journeys, projects and communities that have led to this moment.

    RSVP

  • Creative Sync

    10.21 7:00-8:00PM

    An interactive session for makers and thinkers to collaborate, connect, and spark new ideas.

    RSVP

  • Inspire Night

    10.21 7:00-8:00PM

    An interactive session for makers and thinkers to collaborate, connect, and spark new ideas.

    RSVP

Past Events

  • Living Canvas Artist

    Held at Stryx gallery

    More info

  • Living Canvas Neuro

    Held at wednesbury library for the neurodivergent.

    More info

Join Us In Creating Community Impact

We are looking for passionate, creative and community-minded people to help us deliver programmes that use creativity, culture and storytelling to bring people together.

Our opportunities may include freelance roles, project-based work, volunteering, internships and creative delivery positions across Exceptional Pathways CIC programmes.

VACANCIES & OPPORTUNITIES

  • Living Canvas Project Lead

    We are seeking a creative and organised Project Lead to help plan, coordinate and deliver Living Canvas projects across Birmingham and the West Midlands.

    The role will involve supporting programme planning, coordinating artists and partners, helping deliver workshops and events, and collecting impact evidence for future funding and community development.

    Ideal for someone with experience in:

    Community arts
    Creative project delivery
    Youth or wellbeing programmes
    Workshop coordination
    Partnership working
    Impact and evaluation

    Apply

  • Creative Facilitator

    We are looking for creative facilitators to help deliver workshops and sessions as part of our community programmes.

    This role will involve leading or supporting creative activities in areas such as visual art, music, poetry, storytelling, photography, podcasting, media or performance.

    Ideal for someone with experience in:

    Creative workshops
    Arts facilitation
    Music, poetry, art or media
    Working with communities
    Supporting young people or adults
    Inclusive creative practice

    apply

  • Community Engagement Volunteer

    We are looking for community-minded volunteers to help us connect with local people, organisations and community groups.

    The role will involve supporting outreach, helping us build relationships with libraries, schools, care homes, youth groups and cultural organisations, and helping more people access our programmes.

    Ideal for someone with experience in:

    Community engagement
    Outreach
    Volunteering
    Local networks
    Partnership building
    Working with diverse communities

    apply

  • Event Volunteer

    We are looking for reliable and friendly volunteers to support the delivery of our events, workshops and community gatherings.

    The role will involve helping with setup, guest welcome, registration, participant support, room preparation and general event support.

    Ideal for someone with experience in:

    Events
    Customer service
    Hospitality
    Community activities
    Teamwork
    Supporting live programmes

    Apply

  • Media & Content Volunteer

    We are looking for creative volunteers to help capture and share the story of our programmes.

    The role will involve supporting photography, video, social media content, interviews, behind-the-scenes footage and event documentation.

    Ideal for someone with experience in:

    Photography
    Videography
    Social media
    Content creation
    Storytelling
    Creative documentation

    Apply

  • Grant Research / Funding Support

    We are looking for someone to help identify funding opportunities and support the development of grant-ready evidence.

    The role will involve researching grants, tracking deadlines, gathering project information, supporting impact evidence and helping us build a stronger funding pipeline.

    Ideal for someone with experience in:

    Grant research
    Funding applications
    Research
    Admin
    Impact reporting
    Community or charity projects

    apply

  • General Volunteer

    We are looking for volunteers who want to support our work across different activities and programmes.

    This role may involve helping with events, workshops, outreach, admin, participant support, content, setup or community projects depending on your skills and availability.

    Ideal for someone with experience in:

    Volunteering
    Community work
    Events
    Creative projects
    Admin support
    Working with people

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  • Creative Partnerships Lead

    Exceptional Pathways is seeking a Creative Partnerships Lead to help shape the future of Atelier 9 — our creative studio, cultural space and home for collaboration in the heart of Birmingham.

    Your role will be to build relationships, create opportunities and help position Atelier 9 as a destination for creatives, organisations and communities to create, connect and grow.

    That feels much closer to the calibre of role and vision you're building.

    Apply

Bring Living Canvas To Your Community

We partner with libraries, schools, care homes, cultural organisations and community groups.

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