University of òòò½ÎÑÊÓƵ interns collaborate with SICK! Productions to produce community-driven documentary
Six University of òòò½ÎÑÊÓƵ interns collaborated with SICK! Productions to create a documentary on community arts projects in North òòò½ÎÑÊÓƵ, transforming shop shutters and walls into vibrant art to highlight the area's positive community spirit.
Six student interns from The University of òòò½ÎÑÊÓƵ's (SoSS) and (SALC) have successfully completed a documentary project in collaboration with the renowned . This initiative, now in its second year, aims to provide students with real-world experience and enhance their employability in the creative sector.
The interns were tasked with creating a short documentary about community arts projects in North òòò½ÎÑÊÓƵ. This year's focus was on a mural project, where shop shutters and walls in Moston and Harpurhey were transformed into vibrant pieces of art. The goal was to reframe the negative perceptions of the area and highlight the resilient and positive community spirit.
During the project, the students faced various challenges, including technical issues and the need to quickly learn new skills. Despite these hurdles, they found the experience rewarding and gained valuable insights into filmmaking and community engagement. The documentary aimed to showcase the positive aspects of the community and what can be done to further support it.
The students expressed their gratitude to the Moston and Harpurhey communities for their cooperation, and to the SICK! team for their guidance. They also acknowledged the support of their mentors, Fresh RB who played a crucial role in the project's success.
The documentary was presented to staff and students from the University of òòò½ÎÑÊÓƵ and members of the SICK! and Fresh RB teams. The interns received positive feedback for their commitment and the quality of their work. The project not only provided them with practical skills but also a deeper understanding of the importance of community and storytelling.
One of the interns reflected:
It was amazing to see the community come together and to be able to do something that makes a tangible difference. This experience has been incredibly rewarding and has given us confidence in our abilities.
Each student intern was asked at the presentation to choose one word to describe their experience:
- Enlightening
- Lesson
- Collaborative
- Meaningful
- Hopeful
- Inspiring
The SICK! continues to be a platform for creative collaboration, and this project exemplifies the positive impact that such partnerships can have on both students and the local community.
Dr Claire Fox, SoSS EDI Director, expressed her enthusiasm:
It was fantastic to collaborate with SICK! Festival on these creative media internships. The students gained valuable experience working on socially engaged projects that brought together media, storytelling and real-world impact — a strong example of our commitment to civic engagement and social responsibility. Well done to our colleagues at SICK! Festival and to our brilliant student interns for their amazing work on this initiative.
Dr Sheena Kalayil, SALC EDI Director, also praised the interns:
The students who won their places on the internship proved their worth in creating an extraordinary film about community and hope in North òòò½ÎÑÊÓƵ. They spoke eloquently about what they learned from the internship, professionally and personally. And, gratifyingly, they highlighted the skills around teamwork and time management which they had learned on their degree programmes which proved useful on this intensive internship. Well done to our six students!