Digital Storytelling & Creative Connections for Community Empowerment

A partnership between Intercultural Roots (Coventry, UK) and MakingCulture® e.V. (Coburg, Germany)

"We went to find a partnership. What we found was a mirror."

Intercultural Roots (UK) and MakingCulture® e.V. (Germany) have successfully launched a groundbreaking partnership under the Cultural Bridge 2025-2026 programme.

In July 2025, the partnership officially commenced at the Coburg Sustainability Days (Coburger Nachhaltigkeitstage). Amidst workshops on climate change and regional transformation, our teams came together at the Alte Pakethalle to explore how digital storytelling can bridge the gap between our industrial pasts and sustainable futures. This was followed by a return visit to Coventry, where we explored the "Motor City" heritage and the medieval roots of the textile trade.

This project engaged over 800 people in Coburg and diverse communities in Coventry, using participatory arts and the PLACES by EcoGPX® app to reimagine public space and empower underrepresented voices.

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The 'Co-Co' Connection

We coined "The Co-Co Connection" to describe the surprising mirrors between our cities:

- Two Skylines: Coburg’s Duke Ernst vs. Coventry’s Lady Godiva, sparking dialogues on tradition vs. resistance.

- Fabric of History: Both names ("Coburg" and "Covent") have etymological roots in fabrics and community assemblies.

- Weaving to Wheels: Both cities transitioned from textile hubs to automotive centres, a history we traced through the Brose company, which operates in both locations.

- True Blue: Coventry’s famous dye has a "twin" in the historic "Blaufabrik" near Coburg, inspiring our cross-border Cyanotype workshops.

- The Jerrycan: We discovered that the same factory in Coburg produced Jerrycans for the Wehrmacht in WWII and for the British War Department post-1945, a powerful symbol of moving from conflict to cooperation.

Activity Highlights

Coburg Leg: Sustainability Days (2–4 July 2025)

- The Main Stage: Our exchange launched at the Coburg Sustainability Days, a major regional event held at the historic Alte Pakethalle and Am Güterbahnhof.

- Cultural Bridges Session: On Friday, 4th July, we hosted a dedicated session titled "Cultural Bridges: Networking, Sustainability, Digital Storytelling". This brought together Intercultural Roots and MakingCulture e.V. to present our joint vision to a public audience.

- A Hub of Transformation: The festival provided a perfect backdrop for our work, with surrounding sessions on "Transformation for Regional Future," climate resilience, and "Blue Tibet", reinforcing our shared commitment to eco-conscious cultural work.‍

- Creative Mapping: Workshops held on-site at the freight station allowed us to test our digital storytelling tools in a live festival environment, connecting with the theme of "Ideas for developing your own future".

- The First Electric Car: We explored the legacy of the Flocken Elektrowagen (1888), the world’s first four-wheeled electric car born in Coburg: a perfect link to Coventry’s status as the UK’s "Motor City."

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Coventry Leg (11–14 July 2025)

- Living Heritage: Our German partners explored The Weaver’s House and the Coventry Transport Museum, connecting the physical dots of our shared history.

- The Rhythm of Exchange: At the Delia Derbyshire Building (Coventry University), musicians Beebee Bassey, Jude Rees, and Limbani Nhlane led the group in learning the song "Muli Bwanji" ("How are you?"), turning a workshop into a celebration of dance and unity.

- Community Feasts: From Turkish BBQ in Earlsdon to the vegan market in Broadgate, sharing food was central to building our "Covenant" of friendship.

Impact & Future

Community Reach

‍The project engaged diverse communities far beyond the core workshops:

- Coventry: Directly engaged 45+ participants (including 12 young adults from refugee/migrant backgrounds) and reached 130+ users via the PLACES by EcoGPX® app.

- Coburg: Reached 800+ attendees at Sustainability Days and 180+ at the Veste Coburg presentation.

- International: The Flocken Electric Car demonstration at the Munich IAA Mobility Fair attracted 450+ visitors.

Strategic Ties

‍We have established lasting links between:

- Youth Services: Connecting Cosmos Youth Centre (Coburg) with youth services in Coventry.

- Civic Partners: The Coventry Association for International Friendship (CAIF) is now exploring future collaborations with our German partners.

Future Vision

‍Both organisations are committed to deepening this partnership, with plans for future youth exchanges and a continued focus on "Making Culture" together.

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Multimedia Spotlight

- Coburg Programme

- Press Release: Intercultural Roots & MakingCulture e.V. Launch CulturalBridge: Bridging Cultures Through Innovation.

- Press Release: From Coburg to Coventry: A Cultural Journey Through Art, Heritage, History, and Innovation

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Funding Credits

Project Leaders:

- Intercultural Roots: Dr Alex Boyd, Maryam Safe, Issias Yohanes, Wendy van der Haagen Boyd, Fatima Almeida, Basma Darouich.

- MakingCulture® e.V.: Prof. Gerhard Kampe, Peter Langendorf, Liliana Frevel, Rupert Appeltshauser.

This project was funded by Cultural Bridge, which celebrates bilateral artistic partnerships between the UK and Germany through the collaboration between Arts Council England, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, British Council, Creative Scotland, Fonds Soziokultur, Goethe-Institut London and Wales Arts International / Arts Council of Wales.