Community songwriting project proves a huge success for creativity in Sunderland

After just a few months, the 'Nibbles' project has proven to be a powerful catalyst for creative growth and community pride.

A new community songwriting project, hosted at the 'Just Let Your Soul Grow' allotment in Southwick has been hailed as a resounding success. It's funded through The Cultural Spring's Nibbles commission and has been delivered in partnership with Sunderland Music City.

Nibbles is a series of small-scale creative commissions (typically £4,000 each) that pair local artists with community groups and venues to test new ideas for participatory arts activities.

The programme encourages co-creation, experimentation, and shared experience, without the pressure of producing a final showpiece.

Musicians Marty Longstaff (The Lake Poets and Sunderland Music City) and Ray Hopkins worked directly with allotment volunteers and visitors to co-write original songs. These songs are inspired by the space, its people, and its spirit.

The project has already had a significant impact, creating moments of joy, boosting confidence, and strengthening community bonds through creativity.

Participants reported feelings of pride and increased wellbeing, describing the sessions as "uplifting," "a boost for mental health," and "something that brings people together who wouldn't normally meet."

Marty Longstaff, of The Lake Poets and Music Officer at Sunderland Music City said, "I was so excited to be awarded a Nibbles commission that enabled me to create a songwriting project that brings music-making to the community at such an amazing place."

"This collaborative approach, rooted in the community and focused on sharing a unique experience, is exactly what The Cultural Spring and Sunderland Music City are all about; showing that great things often start small and that art belongs right here, where people live."

The Nibbles commissions place local people at the centre of decision-making—residents help select ideas, shape activity, and co-create the final work.

The Cultural Spring, funded by Arts Council England's Creative People and Places programme, leads the initiative with support from its core partners the University of Sunderland, Sunderland Music, Arts and Culture (MAC) Trust, The Cultural Spring Charity and Young Asian Voices (YAV).

Funding for the 'Nibbles' project also comes from the UK Government's Shared Prosperity scheme through South Tyneside Council in partnership with the South Tyneside Cultural Partnership group (for South Tyneside commissions).

The project culminates in a free public performance at 12-3pm Saturday 8^th November at the 'Just Let Your Soul Grow' garden on Thomspon Road.

Find out more: https://musiccity.uk/whats-on/nibbles-shareback-f47q
 

The Cultural Spring works to increase participation in arts and culture across Sunderland and South Tyneside. Through Creative People and Places funding from Arts Council England, it empowers communities to lead cultural decision-making and supports artists to develop meaningful, locally rooted creative projects.

The formal recognition by the Music Cities Network places Sunderland among a global powerhouse of cities like Berlin, Manchester and Sydney, committed to harnessing music as a tool for social and economic transformation, and marks a bold new chapter in the city's creative future.

Sunderland Music City's Year of Music runs from June 2025 to June 2026. The Sunderland Year of Music is supported using public funding by Arts Council England.