Cultural Exchange

On the 23rd of February, Rob and I (Reuben) had the fantastic opportunity to travel to London and deliver a presentation on "Tackling Loneliness Through Rock Music" to a delegation from Hong Kong hosted by the British Council.

This topic feels particularly important right now, considering the ongoing national cost-of-living crisis and the recent bankruptcy of Birmingham City Council. We’ve already seen essential services that contribute to well-being cut or their budgets slashed, and the recently announced Birmingham council tax hike will only exacerbate the situation.

Despite the heavy subject, the presentation itself was a wonderful experience. We had the privilege of chatting with the delegates and exchanging diverse perspectives on tackling loneliness. Drawing on our backgrounds as arts practitioners, administrators, and facilitators, we shared our personal experiences and explored various approaches to fostering connections within communities.

One of the biggest takeaways for us was the cultural importance of food in Hong Kong. The vibrant food scene and its role in bringing people together has sparked some interesting inspiration for us when thinking of our own projects.

This experience has further solidified our commitment to exploring the power of music and community in fostering connection and combating loneliness, especially in the face of challenging times. We look forward to incorporating these learnings into our future endeavors and continuing the conversation on building stronger, more connected communities.