During the lockdown, we wanted to continue to encourage creativity, and even more importantly keep people connected. With this in mind, East Durham Creates set up two digital ukulele groups working together with Jack Drum Arts to connect local people via learning new music skills.
Participants received a free ukulele to use during sessions if needed and could access the lessons from home via Zoom. We held six online sessions allowing everyone to learn and participate as a group and support one another, followed by a jam session at the Arts Cafe in Peterlee, where the group had the opportunity to meet one another in person, as well as Jack, the musical leader from Jack Drum Arts. Prior to this East Durham Creates had not delivered purely digital sessions, and so this was a valuable time to learn how to utilise technology to deliver a wider programme of creativity.