South Square Centre & Kala Sangham (Bradford Arts Centre)
Soul Girls Heritage Arts Project: Evaluative Case Study
Project description:
The project demonstrated a carefully structured approach to heritage exploration, building from initial research and inspiration through to final community installation. Early activities included a visit to Yorkshire Sculpture Park where participants “spent the full day outdoors looking at all the sculpture and researching ideas for our own sculpture.” This research phase informed later sculpture creation.
The process involved extensive community engagement, with participants actively “exploring Allerton for locations for our sculptures in the upcoming summer art trail” and taking ownership of both creative and logistical elements. The progression from individual heritage exploration through poetry workshops to collaborative map-making and final installation demonstrates a comprehensive approach to heritage celebration.
The project employed diverse artistic mediums to explore a central theme of identity (“what makes you YOU?”), with particular emphasis on celebrating the different cultures and heritage each girl brings to the group. As documented through the project: “These sculptures will represent the different cultures and heritage that make up Soul Girls” and were created to “represent the Soul Girls family and the different cultures and heritage each girl brings.” The girls created a range of different artistic products through engaging in creative workshops:
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- Individual Lego mosaics reflecting personal heritage and cultural background, described as representing “our favourite things, our community and our family”
- Photography workshops focusing on capturing people, places, and objects that represent personal identity
- Personal poetry about identity written using pyrography and paint on wood, developed through workshops that “talked about heritage and celebrating our roots”
- Painted murals created as “a display to reflect the girls’ heritage and what home means to them”.
- Living willow sculpture representing growth and connection to place, planted in the Vicarage Garden and noted to be “now flowering beautifully and looks absolutely stunning”
- Barbara Hepworth-inspired sculptures using recycled materials, “Inspired by our trip to Yorkshire Sculpture Park”
- Giant friendship bracelets incorporating language about Soul Girls’ group values and the qualities of friendship
- Group logo design reflecting collective identity, with participants “designing the Soul Girls logo themselves”. Screen printing this logo onto tote bags and t-shirts
- Map creation connecting individual artworks into a community heritage trail, with participants working to “put the finishing touches on our art trail maps”.x
Key Success Factors:
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- Coherent theme: The identity and heritage theme provided a strong connecting thread across diverse activities, allowing for deep exploration of cultural backgrounds and confidence building for personal expression.
- Skilled facilitation: Professional artists and careful project leadership ensured sensitive and meaningful delivery for all young people involved.
- Community partnership: Collaboration between an established local charity and external arts heritage expertise means learning remains with the group, and the participants will continue working together even after the project has ended.
- Participant cultural voice: Regular consultation with the young people ensured they felt their views were represented and that they had agency over the choices made.
The Soul Girls BD25 Arts Project was a very successful project that achieved its core objectives of supporting young people to explore their cultural heritage and identity while building confidence and creating lasting community impact. The combination of diverse artistic approaches, skilled facilitation, and strong community partnerships created an environment where young people could explore their identities & cultural backgrounds while developing practical skills and contributing meaningfully to their local community’s cultural landscape.
The project’s legacy through the Soul Girls Art Trail provides visibility of the young people’s identity and creative achievements within the community, while the arts and heritage understanding developed by both participants and staff creates potential for sustained creative exploration beyond the formal project period.
Participant voices clearly demonstrate the project’s impact:
These reflections encapsulate the project’s success in creating positive, engaging experiences that build confidence, celebrate cultural heritage and identity, and foster creative exploration among young people at a crucial developmental stage.
A joint collaboration between South Square Centre & Kala Sangham (Bradford Arts Centre)
The Soul Girls group operates as a weekly session (5-6:30pm Wednesdays) at St Francis Village Hall, Allerton, serving 8-10 girls aged 10-12 during the critical transition period from primary to secondary school. Established and run by Kate and Lorraine from local charity ‘Rooted In’, the group focuses on building confidence and self-esteem through structured activities.
As part of the Kala Sangam project, Arts & Heritage Officer Gemma Bailey has coordinated a series of artist-led workshops over 12 months, culminating in the creation of the Soul Girls Art Trail – a community-wide installation launched on July 19th, 2025.
Key project objectives:
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- Support young people to explore and express their cultural heritage and identity
- Build confidence and self-esteem through heritage-focused creative activities
- Create tangible community legacy that celebrates diverse cultural backgrounds
- Develop new skills for both participants and group leaders in heritage exploration through arts
Participant Outcomes:
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- Heritage understanding and cultural pride: Participants demonstrated confidence in articulating their cultural identity and heritage. The variety of creative mediums allowed different aspects of heritage to be explored, from country of origin to personal values and family traditions. As one participant noted: “I enjoyed making the flag of where I’m from in Lego,” showing how individual Lego mosaics allowed participants to represent their personal heritage in meaningful ways, demonstrating pride in their diverse backgrounds and developing a deeper understanding of what makes them unique.
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- Cultural skills and knowledge: Beyond artistic techniques, participants developed cultural awareness skills, learning to identify and express elements of their heritage through visual and creative means. The photography project particularly supported participants in recognizing and documenting aspects of their cultural identity in their everyday environment. One participant reflected: “The photography sessions were my favourite because I liked thinking about the things that represented me and also taking the photos and learning about lighting. It’s changed the way I’m taking photos now too.”
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- Confidence: The project successfully supported participants in feeling confident about sharing their cultural backgrounds, with evidence of increased articulacy about their identity and heritage. The variety of creative methods ensured all participants could find meaningful ways to explore and share their cultural stories. Participants expressed enthusiasm for continuing their creative exploration, with one stating: “I liked screen printing best because I love art and would like to do it all again!”
Community Impact:
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- Cultural heritage celebration: The Soul Girls Art Trail represents a significant temporary community asset that celebrates both the local young people and their diverse cultural heritage. The trail’s sculptures and artworks “represent the Soul Girls family and the different cultures and heritage each girl brings,” creating visibility for cultural identity within the community.
Organisational Benefits:
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- Capacity Building: The project provided valuable professional development for Rooted In staff, with leaders reporting that the additional input from South Square enhanced their team’s capabilities and offered experiences they would not have been able to provide independently. As one junior leader observed: “I love watching the joy on the girls’ faces as they try new things each week!” This enthusiasm from staff demonstrates how the project energized both participants and facilitators.
Challenges:
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- Attendance Patterns: While the project successfully engaged participants, only one girl attended all sessions, as consistent engagement seemed challenging. However, all participants demonstrated strong comprehension of the overall project journey despite varied attendance.
