Creative Team
Creative Team
Project Poet and Spoken Word Artist and Facilitator
John Bernard
Coventry Poet Laureate
John is a Coventry based poet, rapper & writer hailing from Stoke Aldermore. John uses his artistry to inspire, influence and invigorate his listeners with meaningful messages. His work commentates on social issues, youth empowerment, faith and purpose. Distinctive delivery, commanding voice, an intricate lyricist his content is authentically raw and potent. He has undoubtedly carved a lane for himself infusing Spoken Word poetry, Alternative-Rap and Neo- Soul.
Orphaned by the age of 11, in the Youth Offenders system by the age of 15 and pushed to the brink of succumbing to the perils of gang culture by 17. It was not until the age of 18, when life took an optimistic turn as he realised the importance of living a purpose driven life. This realisation inspired him to pursue a career in the arts which has led to his work receiving nationwide coverage. John extends his impact beyond performances through active community engagement. He leads creative workshops, empowering young minds to find their voice and express themselves through the art of poetry and music.
John has worked at renowned events and venues across the UK, including Shambala festival, Godiva Festival, FBBC Radio 1's Big Weekend, Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022, Symphony Hall with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Formula 1 Grand Prix Silverstone 2023, Warwick Art Centre, and Herbert Art Gallery to name the few. John's work has received recognition on various BBC platforms, including appearances on BBC Radio 3's "The Verb," BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC 1Xtra, and the BBC's "Contains Strong Language" program.
Through John's artistry, he strives to inspire listeners to embrace their true potential and become the best versions of themselves. I believe in the power of action, urging individuals to stand up for their beliefs and actively contribute to the creation of a more just and equitable society.
John has worked on various collaborations with University of Warwick researchers since he joined Coventry Creates 2021, working on Lost Museums?
Communities John is part of...
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Communities Josh is part of...
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Project Animation Artist and Facilitator
Josh Leach
Animation Artist
Website:
Animation / Music / Script / Voiceover
Josh is a Freelance Animator with a BA in Visual Communication: Film and Animation from Birmingham City University with over four years of experience in creating engaging animations for various clients and projects, using Adobe Creative Suite and other tools.
Josh really loves to 1) breakdown a concept and 2) help people make connections they hadn't noticed before. Both of these feed into Josh's love of teaching and presenting in person, or with the help of an animation.
A few years ago, Josh was selected as local leaders for the Coventry City of Culture Leadership Programme, a two-year initiative, where he learnt the deeper Jungian theory and frameworks behind tools such as MBTI and Insights Discovery. Josh has experience in Animation, Illustration, Music Production, Voiceover, Scripting, Editing, YouTube Marketing and Idea Generation has worked with schools, businesses, charities and researchers.
Josh has worked on various University of Warwick projects including a collaborative project with Coventry City Council, the West Midlands Combined Authority, Foleshill Community Centre and local poet Navkiran Mann. -
And a project with Lory Barile (Economics) and Coventry City Council project theme lead Bret Willers -
Project Video Capture and Film Production
Adom Agyapong
Adom is a director and cinematographer with a BA in Film and Television from the University of the Arts London. Adom has worked behind the camera to create narrative films, documentaries and commercial content, he possesses a strong dedication to craft visually captivating and emotionally resonant films.
Adom also has a deep passion for blending captivating visuals with powerful narratives, creating work that not only engages the viewer in the moment but leaves a lasting impact. Driven by a commitment to making the most out of each project, Adom approaches each project with a dedication to weaving a visual tapestry that can resonate with all that see it.
Website - https://adomagyapong.squarespace.com/
Communities Adom is part of...
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Communities Sherrie is part of...
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Project Photographer and Facilitator
Sherrie Edgar
Freelance Mixed-Media Artist
Website: Sherrie Edgar - About
Sherrie is a co-founder of COVert Arts, a grassroots art organisation set up to give artists opportunities to exhibit their work. She was part of the City of Culture 2021’s Walking Forest project which highlighted the importance of our environment and trees. She was also a photographer for Radford Bubbles a photographic exhibition capturing the lockdown experiences of Radford residents during the first 15 months of the Pandemic, which was shown at the Central Library in Coventry and the Jubilee Crescent Community Centre in Radford. Recently, Sherrie also completed a film for Refugee Week 2021.
Sherrie has worked with University of Warwick Researchers on two projects as part of Coventry Creates 2020 and 2021.