2025 Retrospective
Our Projects in 2025
Atlas Primary Visit The National Gallery
We had a fantastic day in January with the wonderful students from Atlas Primary visiting The National Gallery! Students on the trip took part in the National Gallery’s Arcade Programme last year so it was wonderful to introduce the young people to the Gallery itself.
For many of the members of the group it was their first trip ever to London. During the visit, the students took part in a workshop with artist Jo and the group got to explore the paintings, expanded on their drawing skills and were inspired to create their own artwork.
With thanks to the fab staff at Atlas Academy and The National Gallery!
Community Tapestry | Love & Unity by Morag Myerscough, Karen Hall and the Doncaster Community
In January-February, we exhibited the Community Tapestry that was created during the Doncaster Festival of Light 2024 in CAST Doncaster. The artwork includes all Doncaster’s gorgeous messages of what they loved about Doncaster.
A huge thank you to Morag for creating Love & Unity for Doncaster, Karen for bringing this piece together and special shout out to Andy and Jack from CAST for helping with the installation!
Doncaster Young Producers
Working with Rebecca Smith from Urban Projections, a group of six Young Producers from Doncaster were introduced to the role of ‘Festival Producer’ and were rooted in the creation of the artwork for the Doncaster Festival of Light On Tour. The project was designed to engage with a cohort of young people who identified as female or global majority
The group got an insight into a range of learning from budgets to risk assessments alongside Rebecca as the group prepared for the Doncaster Festival of Light on Tour.
Workshops included a trip to see the Tate Modern to see the beautiful Anthony McCall exhibition in London with Rebecca and the Right Up Our Street Team, a visit to Rebecca’s workshop space at Welbeck and meetings at the Right Up Our Street Office on Scot Lane.
Doncaster Festival of Light On Tour
The Doncaster Festival of Light ON TOUR is all about Right Up Our Street bringing high quality light art exhibitions to your doorstep. In February this was trialled and Warmsworth White Church was filled with light for two nights.
The artwork ‘CIRCA’ was created by Light Projection Artist Rebecca Smith of Urban Projections in collaboration with Doncaster Young Producers.
Rebecca’s artwork is was about "Experimenting with how we perceive ourselves through immersive technologies, her work seeks to surprise and engage audiences with its playful tone and interactivity. Challenging and pushing the boundaries of her discipline, Rebecca cultivates human connection and shared experiences within beautifully crafted, digital worlds."
The Island | The One With the High Rises
In 2022, Right Up Our Street committed to delivering a three-year programme of work within the Balby Bridge Estate to develop a deeper understanding of the community, recognize their needs, and work toward changing the narrative and shifting perceptions of the estate.
We aimed for this programme to be led by the people who live on the estate or use its services, providing them with the opportunity to influence and engage in high-quality, exciting arts activities.
The Island is a retrospective exhibition reflecting on the work Right Up Our Street has delivered on the Balby Bridge Estate in collaboration with the community, highlighting the wonderful community that live and visit there as work continues in the area.
Community Advisors, May 2025
It was great to get this fab group of people together in the Civic Building to discuss the Priority Communities Strand.
Led by Chair Akeela Mohammed, within the session six members pitched groups who they would like to see Right Up Our Street work with to the rest of the advisors. This was then discussed within smaller groups, allowing members to ask questions, ahead of the Advisors voting anonymously next week.
Mother Hubbards provided delicious Fish & Chips and thank you to Paul Bareham for the exciting tour of the Council Chambers after the meeting.
Who We Are... Exhibition at Danum Gallery!
15 young Doncaster creatives transformed their personal journeys into a powerful exhibition exploring the bedroom as a space between childhood and adulthood.
The group collaborated with Doncaster artist Doya Beardmore (Skinny Pelembe) to create the soundscape for the exhibition. Created through the British Museum’s “Where We Are...” programme and led by facilitator Sarah Smizz.
“Collaboration made our ideas flourish. We’ve created a safe, welcoming space where everyone feels heard.” - Young Creators
Special thanks and shout out goes to Sarah Smizz, Skinny Pelembe, Madaan MEDIA, Helen Fisher, Paul Littlewood, Shelaagh Ferral, Meg Barclay, Hanouf Al-Alawi, Ian Crighton, the team at the Central Family Hub and the Danum Gallery, Library and Museum team.
Monumental Constructions - Olivier GROSSETÊTE
Right Up Our Street brought Olivier Grossetête's Monumental Constructions to Doncaster Market Square as part of Doncaster’s Remake Learning Festival.
Olivier is inspired by local architecture and bringing communities together by making something beautiful out of just cardboard and tape.
We invited the community of Doncaster to help us build a life-size replica of the facade of the Corn Exchange. We hosted free workshops every day from Monday 26th May to Friday 30th May to support the build of the structure.
During the weekend we invited everyone back to construct and celebrate the structure created by the community.
Summer in Balby Bridge
Right Up Our Street delivered a summer programme in our new workshop space on the Balby Bridge Estate.
We had a range of workshops for people of all ages - from music, to nature, to animation (and more!), partnering with Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, Fashion Fusion, Studio Portal, GSD, Jaz Davey and Roots to Renewal.
July Community Advisors - The Dome
It was so wonderful to get this enthusiastic group together at the Donny Dome for July’s Community Advisors Meeting to discuss the Priority Communities Strand.
Great to also hear from Danielle from the Social Isolation Alliance, Tracy Fry from the Family Hubs, Karen Hall and Rich Lewis.
Thank you to DCLT Doncaster Dome Leisure Centre for providing us the use of a meeting space at The Dome, the fab buffet and the ice skating post meeting - we had all the fun!
Shout out to our fantastic chair Akeela Din Mohammed DL for leading us through the conversation.
Festival Steering Group Visit Bradford
We started our day visiting the YOU:MATTER National Science and Media Museum an exhibition by artist collective MARSHMALLOW LASER FEAST.
YOU:MATTER is an immersive art experience designed to engage your senses. The exhibition features dynamic soundscapes, varied lighting effects—including darkened areas and bright lights—and mirrored flooring.
We finished our day out with a trip to the Centenary square, as it was transformed by mountains of technicolour foam
It was fab to see the community experience Island of Foam: Version #40, by artist Stephanie Luening, watching as people observed and interacted with the artwork So Colourful!!
We’re so proud of our Festival Steering Group and the knowledge and insight they share with us on our Go-See days. We can’t thank them enough for their time and generosity Plus, we have all the fun together
Into the Park 2025
Featuring Virtual Reality Playground with Studio Go Go.
We were joined by fantastic partners and activities on both days.
The community brought their family and friends, packed a picnic, and enjoyed a free day out!
We are Balby Bridge Launch - Inside Out - The People’s Art Project
“Created by the artist JR after winning the TED Prize in 2011, the Inside Out Project is a global art platform that helps communities around the world to stand up for what they believe in and spark global change locally.
Group Leaders create their Actions by displaying large-scale black and white portraits of members from their community in public spaces, forming a public art installation.”
Our mission?
To photograph as many people as possible who live on or visit the Balby Bridge Estate - because every face tells a story and every story matters.
You can get involved in this project by having your photograph taken at the Right Up Our Street shop space on the Balby Bridge Estate, lending a helping hand with the project, offering an outdoor wall space exhibit the final exhibition, or simply helping to spread the word. Our ambition is to photograph as many people as possible living and visiting the Balby Bridge Estate.
October Community Advisors - Yorkshire Aircraft Museum
Another fantastic meeting with our dedicated group of Community Advisors, continuing conversations about our Priority Communities Strand It was great to get the opportunity to hold the meeting in the South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum - a first time visit for many of the group!
The catering was provided by Scran. - a Future Pathways CIC initiative based on Wood Street in Doncaster. It was great to hear Pete and Lauren talk to passionately about the alternative provision - and the food was amazing.
To finish the meeting, Alan from the South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum gave a talk about the history of the museum and the group had an opportunity to ask questions.
A huge thank you as always to our Community Advisors for their time and enthusiasm.
Shout out to our fantastic chair Akeela Mohammed for leading us through the conversation.
Doncaster Festival of Light 2025
This Doncaster Festival of Light welcomed 5500 visitors over the ten days to experience Refik Anadol’s exhibition of Machine Hallucinations: Large Nature Model in Coral, Flora and Fauna.
Organised by Right Up Our Street and their Community Festival Steering Group, we strive to push boundaries and deliver a unique high-quality event that all of Doncaster can all be proud of. The festival is about audiences connecting to joy, embracing experiences and participatory moments. Culture belongs to everyone.
This year’s artwork, Machine Hallucinations: Large Nature Model Series, is a unique addition to an expanding collection of works crafted using The Large Nature Model, the first open-source generative AI model focused on nature, pioneered by Refik Anadol.
Festival Steering Group
The Festival Steering Group is made up of a variety of partners and community members who help shape the Festival programme with the team.
The Festival Steering Group meet quarterly and are invited on go-sees to experience festival art across the UK.
Funding News - Phase 5
Right Up Our Street has been awarded £1M as part of Arts Council England’s largest ever Creative People and Places (CPP) Portfolio, which sees £42 million invested in 45 programmes from 2026–29, to deliver more grassroots-led cultural experiences in areas across England where involvement in arts and culture is below the national average.
Director of Right Up Our Street Sally Lockey said “Right Up Our Street are so pleased to have received confirmation of a further 3 years of funding. Over the past 13 years we've built a programme of arts activities and events that truly represent who we are as a community. This has only been possible through the network of support we've grown. Community members, through to local businesses, charities and The City of Doncaster Council have given their time so generously, coming together to grow a programme and in turn a place that we can all be proud of. I’m so excited to see what we do next!"