As part of the Bristol Refugee Festival we hosted the Festival Finale with The Fantasy Orchestra performing their own arrangement of music shared with them by refugees living in Bristol. Watch again in two parts here.

Pt 1: Har Kurd Abin (Ibrahim Ahmad)

Pt 2: Zor Qiji Zerd (Slemany University Band)

This is brought to you by Trinity Presents. Click here to see more arts, community, well-being and education content or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Trinity are working with external artists, partners and organisations as part of Trinity Presents Online to provide exciting content, relevant to Trinity's diverse audiences and in line with our Equal Opportunities and Free Speech Policies. Click here for more information about our Policies. While we endeavour to ensure content we share is relevant and appropriate, Trinity is not responsible for individual content created by third parties.

"What a beautiful venue, full to the brim with amazing work and gorgeous outreach programmes and artistic development opportunities. I'm really hoping to spend more time there once things have calmed down" Audience Feedback June 2020

Trinity have been awarded funding of £28,677 through Power to Change's £12 million emergency support package.

Power to Change support community led businesses, giving places and people more control over shaping their communities. The grant will contribute towards Trinity’s core costs following the ceasing of trading in March 2020, due to lockdown measures. These costs are usually covered by revenue generated from hires, bar sales and our pay and display car park.

The emergency grant follows funding from Power to Change to improve our ability to support communities in running grassroots activity through the Community Kickstart project, as well as enabling us to increase capacity for community hire through the Trinity Digs project.

Trinity is both a community asset and a community and cultural hub. Free and subsided hire allow community groups and residents to deliver their own activity and organise community led meetings and events.  Provision to support those struggling with mental health or social isolation is offered through project activity including our Community Garden and Youth Music project.

We are hugely grateful to the funders who have contributed emergency funds to help us bridge the gap in our funding, created by a loss of trading activity. This support means we can continue to deliver activities for the many communities connected to Trinity. As a Localis report on the sector recently outlined, this crisis has threatened the existence of community assets and has also shown just how significant they are to society in these most challenging times.

“We are delighted Trinity Centre has supported Full Circle youth services by giving us the nature packs to give out to our most vulnerable families and young people. We are also looking forward to deepening our connection with Trinity to benefit the families and young in Bristol”

Judith Davis, Youth Development Manager, Full Circle Youth Centre @ Docklands, June 2020

We know now more than ever, we need opportunities to take part, connect and celebrate. During lockdown we have worked to offer communities the opportunity to access cultural and community activity. This includes supporting groups and individuals to take Community Kickstart activity online through our Trinity Presents Programme. We have also been working with local organisations and schools to distribute activity packs to families - with more planned to reach others who maybe experiencing social isolation due to Covid-19. You can find out more about this activity and how we are reaching communities during lockdown here. Tutors from Making Tracks project have been working to support young people access music making provision through video sessions.

In the Summer the garden welcomed local children and families for activity days. Photo @Paul Blakemore

Local children, including Tate, received activity packs during Lockdown. Photo via Twitter courtesy of Tate's Mum

"@HannahMorePri huge thanks to you and @TrinityBristol for the fantastic kit for the windowsill grow challenge! Tate really enjoyed potting them. We will keep you posted on their growth" Charlene L. Twitter

Since the Covid-19 lockdown, we have been working closely with local primary schools and Up Our Street to find ways to reach out to young people in the community who can no longer access our community garden and may have limited access to green spaces during this time.

The first batch of activity packs, filled with simple DIY windowsill gardening ideas and craft activities for families, children and carers to get busy with at home, went out in May/June 2020. Activities include sowing seeds, making bird feeders, scavenger hunts and more. A digital version of the pack is downloadable from our website.

“I think the biggest benefit is that it gives children and families who might not be able to get outside, the chance to engage in nature-based activities. Being around nature and doing tasks like planting and looking after plants are great for mental health and well-being and get children engaged in the world around them!”

Natalie Barker, Deputy Head, St Nicholas of Toletine Primary, June 2020

The garden team are also creating videos on everything from handy gardening tips to fun activities you can do at home - keep up-to-date with these on our social media channels or catch up here.

10 ways to support the Black community

A spotlight has been thrown on racial inequality on both sides of the Atlantic. We, as an organisation, in concert with our partners neighbours, and friends, are committed to advocating for change in light of the tragic injustices faced by the Black community.

Black members of the Trinity family have compiled a list of 10 ways in which you can show your support. If you have any other ideas please contact us at info@trinitybristol.org.uk. We'd love to hear from you.

How can you help?

1. Educate yourself and then others

• Research and understand structural inequality, systemic racism and black history to decolonise your mind. Check out these resources from Runnymede Trust and Black Lives Matters.
• Advocate for Black History to be taught in schools.
• Enrol on a structured course of learning around Black Historical Studies.
• Share the knowledge and resources.

2. Show your solidarity

• On Wed 3 June, Stand Up To Racism ran a #TakeTheKnee campaign across the UK. Keep up the momentum by taking a knee, raising a fist, making posters, or any combination of these to show your solidarity. We propose a duration of 8.46 minutes in honour of George Floyd.
• It doesn't matter that it's not all on the same day or at the same time. What matters is the message.
• It's not about the show but posting a picture of yourself doing these things will encourage others to do the same.

3. Virtually protest

• Avoid using the official #BLM or #BlackLivesMatter hashtags in your posts as this drowns out the vital information posted by the movement. Instead use #TakeTheKnee #RestInPower #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd #JusticeForBreonnaTaylor #AmplifyBlackVoices and any other relevant tags you can find.
• If you're feeling brave, use social media algorithms to your advantage and add tags used by groups opposing the movement to get the message to those who need to hear it most.

4. Buy Black

• Buy and read books by Black authors.
• Buy gifts and treats from Black businesses.
• Spending locally supports your local economy and buying from Black businesses helps to support an often struggling sector.

5. Support Black platforms

• Follow and learn from Black activist like Tamika Mallory, Leslia Thomas QC and Janet Adler.
• Follow and read media championing Black voices, such as gal-dem and Black Girl Fest.

6. Donate money, time, skills and resources

• There are countless local, national and international Black causes to donate to, including Black Southwest Network, Black Cultural Archives, St Paul's Carnival.
• If you're unable to donate financially, think of what valuable skills you poses that could benefit a cause. This could be anything from designing artwork to stuffing envelopes, making teas to attending meetings on behalf of someone else. Volunteering time is just as valuable as money. Reach out to local Black charities and communities and ask how you can help.

7. Find, sign and share petitions

• Do your research and find petitions to sign that support Black communities and causes. Once you have signed, share the petitions to help spread the word.
• Relevant petitions include those advocating for changes to the national curriculum; justice for the victims and their families; and the proper prosecution of those at fault.
• We've put some links at the end to start you off.

8. Contact your local MP

• This can have a larger impact than you might think. Write to your MP to protest the UK sales of riot shields, tear gas and rubber bullets to the US; and to release the delayed report into Black  Covid-19deaths.
• Use the Find My MP tool to get your MP's direct email address.
• If you're not sure what to write, use templates like this to express your concern. Make sure you edit it to your own words so it doesn't register as spam.

9. Make equality a first thought

• Make equality a first thought not an afterthought when making making decisions. This is important in a wider context and especially important within business. By inviting Black input once the parameters in which you'll be working have already been set, you have already creating an obstacle to equality.
• Make a point of considering equality in all decision making until it becomes second nature.

10. Check in and support

• Check in with your Black family, friends, co-workers and neighbours to find out how they are. A simple phone call, text or meme could make all the difference to someone you know.

Don't let your takeaway from this be that Blackness is about pain. It is about recognising and celebrating humanity in its fullness; the joy and the pain.

Links to petitions:

Educate on Black History

Add Black books to the GCSE reading list

Justice for George Floyd

Justice for Breonna Taylor

Raise the degree charge

There are so many more petitions out there in support of the Black community. Together we can make change happen.

Hospital Records' Hugh Hardie jumped on Minirig's Lockdown Festival for a livestream set. Watch it again here.

This is brought to you by Trinity Presents. Click here to see more arts, community, well-being and education content or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Trinity are working with external artists, partners and organisations as part of Trinity Presents Online to provide exciting content, relevant to Trinity's diverse audiences and in line with our Equal Opportunities and Free Speech Policies. Click here for more information about our Policies. While we endeavour to ensure content we share is relevant and appropriate, Trinity is not responsible for individual content created by third parties.

We are a founding partner of Bristol Arts Channel; a programme of online arts experiences for audiences missing the buzz and community of Bristol's vibrant arts scene. Bristol Arts Channel will launch for a pilot season from May 29 until June 30, in collaboration with The Space and Bristol & Bath Creative R&D.

Trinity will be sharing livestream theatre performances, live music and DJ sets form artists you know and love, as well as online community workshops with Associate Artist Roxana Vilk. The pilot programme will feature a variety of events including: streamed performances, interactive events, carnivalesque experiments, virtual tours, playful zoom experiences, lockdown lullabies, online exhibitions and mini-festivals; all curated by Bristol’s cultural organisations to give audiences moments of togetherness from the comfort of their own homes.

"Bristol Arts Channel feels wholeheartedly in line with the spirit of Bristol... There should be something for everyone – from experimental digital initiatives through to day long music festivals, some of the best theatre offering to live cinema watch parties, living room raves to more intimate conversations."

Katherine Jewkes, Bristol Arts Channel Curator

Upcoming highlights include:

• Bristol Old Vic’s streamed season of plays, including Messiah (Fri 29 May), A Monster Calls (Fri 5 Jun) and The Grinning Man (Fri 26 Jun)
• Come the Revolution watch party with Watershed - Come the Revolution are hosting Sunday evening watching parties featuring some of the best Black Film & TV Netflix has to offer.
• Colston Hall and Simple Things Festival will be broadcasting archive recordings of some of their most memorable gigs including Omar Souleyman from 2017 plus more to be announced.
• Trinity Centre will be working with our Associate Artist Roxana Vilk to collect Lullabies from across Bristol in this time of quarantine for a digital exhibition later in the year.

The Trinity Centre has been given a grant of £35k as part of Arts Council England's £160m emergency package to support the arts sector during the Covid-19 pandemic. We are committing 20% of this grant to pay the artists and community members contributing to 'Trinity Presents'. This will include all artist contributions to our Bristol Arts Channel programming.

How to get involved:

For more information on how to attend or take part in the events and experiences, be sure to keep an eye on our website and social media. Stay tuned to find out what we've got coming up.

Head to Bristol Arts Channel to find out more.

Here is Claire, one of our brilliant Community Garden Facilitators, with a top tips video on sowing peas at home.

You may have seen that we're giving away free "Nature To Your Door" packs, for young people who are currently unable to visit our garden due to lockdown.

These exciting activity packs are filled with DIY windowsill garden ideas and craft activities for you and your children to get busy with at home!

Find out more about the packs here.

This project response to Covid-19 has been made possible from our funders Children in Need, Power to Change & Awards For All.

This is brought to you by Trinity Presents. Click here to see more arts, community, well-being and education content or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Trinity are working with external artists, partners and organisations as part of Trinity Presents Online to provide exciting content, relevant to Trinity's diverse audiences and in line with our Equal Opportunities and Free Speech Policies. Click here for more information about our Policies. While we endeavour to ensure content we share is relevant and appropriate, Trinity is not responsible for individual content created by third parties.

We asked our friends over at Misfits to let you know all about their Rhythm of The Night events.

We usually hold regular Rhythm Of The Night events here at Trinity, and are really missing the great tunes and vibes during lockdown. We can't wait to get them back in the future

For more information about Rhythm Of The Night and to hear some brilliant playlists, check out Misfits Theatre Company.

This is brought to you by Trinity Presents. Click here to see more arts, community, well-being and education content or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Trinity are working with external artists, partners and organisations as part of Trinity Presents Online to provide exciting content, relevant to Trinity's diverse audiences and in line with our Equal Opportunities and Free Speech Policies. Click here for more information about our Policies. While we endeavour to ensure content we share is relevant and appropriate, Trinity is not responsible for individual content created by third parties.

Making Tracks tutor, Oli Cocup, shows how to practise your drum skills without using a drum kit.

This is brought to you by Trinity Presents. Click here to see more arts, community, well-being and education content or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Trinity are working with external artists, partners and organisations as part of Trinity Presents Online to provide exciting content, relevant to Trinity's diverse audiences and in line with our Equal Opportunities and Free Speech Policies. Click here for more information about our Policies. While we endeavour to ensure content we share is relevant and appropriate, Trinity is not responsible for individual content created by third parties.

Our Making Tracks Music programme Intern, Thomas Meadley, recently had a training session with Podcasting and Digital Producing expert Heather Campbell, ahead of the launch of our very own Making Tracks podcast. Watch this space for more news on that! 

We asked Heather to share her top tips for creating your own podcast and here it is! 

Heather has worked for the BBC and ITV developing and creating content for clients such as The Mercury Prize. You can check out the podcast and some brilliant content she has created here https://www.instagram.com/neverseentheoc/ 

Thanks to our Making Tracks programme funders Youth Music for enabling us to create this brilliant top tips video.

This is brought to you by Trinity Presents. Click here to see more arts, community, well-being and education content or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Trinity are working with external artists, partners and organisations as part of Trinity Presents Online to provide exciting content, relevant to Trinity's diverse audiences and in line with our Equal Opportunities and Free Speech Policies. Click here for more information about our Policies. While we endeavour to ensure content we share is relevant and appropriate, Trinity is not responsible for individual content created by third parties.

Trinity garden, pre-lockdown by Alistair Brookes

Working with local schools to bring nature to your home

Our Trinity Garden Team have been working closely with local primary schools and Up Our Street to find ways to reach out to young people in the community who can no longer access our community garden and may have limited access to green spaces during lockdown.

“As the community are not able to come and visit us in the garden right now we felt it was important now more than ever, to have opportunities to be connecting with nature, however small!” Claire Goulding, Trinity Activities Coordinator

The team have created some exciting new activity packs filled with simple DIY windowsill gardening ideas and craft activities for you and your children to get busy with at home. Activities include sowing seeds, making bird feeders, scavenger hunts and more, perfect to activate and challenge young minds.

Normally Trinity would be welcoming groups to take part in weekly Forest School sessions in partnership with St Nicholas of Toletine, Barton Hill Academy and Hannah Moore Primary schools as well as offering open access activities during school holidays.

We have been in communication with our funders on how best to respond to the current situation and adapt our offer – making sure we don’t forget those who have less access to online platforms such Trinity Presents where we have been sharing a series of classes and activities.

How do I order a pack?

We have teamed up with local schools in the area to reach out to local families so keep an eye on their newsletters and emails. Alternatively you can also reserve your pack direct with us and we will be back in touch to arrange collection point either at your local school or a drop off collection to your door.

To reserve your activity pack call us at Trinity on 0117 935 1200.

Due to limited packs for our first run we are prioritising families living in BS2 and BS5.

Please only order one pack per household. The packs come with a few gardening materials to support the activities.

Activities are suited for children aged 5 years and up. Some may require more adult support.

Packs are designed for households that may not have access to a garden i.e. balcony only etc.

This project response to Covid-19 has been made possible from our funders Children in Need, Power to Change & Awards For All.

Click here to download a copy of our Nature to Your Door activity pack

Our Garden facilitator Fleur has been busy creating a birdfeeder so our feathered friends have some tasty treats in the Trinity Community Garden.

Here is a step by step guide to making your very own birdfeeder at home. All you need is an empty toilet roll, string, some fat (lard, butter or margarine) and some birdfeed (or nuts or sugar free cereal.)

Make sure you send us pictures of the birds you see if you make your own!

Thank you BBC Children in Need for making Garden activities for children possible.

This is brought to you by Trinity Presents. Click here to see more arts, community, well-being and education content or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Trinity are working with external artists, partners and organisations as part of Trinity Presents Online to provide exciting content, relevant to Trinity's diverse audiences and in line with our Equal Opportunities and Free Speech Policies. Click here for more information about our Policies. While we endeavour to ensure content we share is relevant and appropriate, Trinity is not responsible for individual content created by third parties.

Team Trinity, pre-lockdown

The Trinity Centre, Old Market, has been given a grant of £35k as part of Arts Council England's £160m emergency package to support the arts sector during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Over 80% of Trinity's revenue is earned income from live music, bar sales, a pay and display public car park, plus hall hire for a range of community events and activities. Trading has ceased since the pandemic and the venue is anticipating a slow recovery once restrictions begin to lift, due to potential extended restrictions on public gatherings.

The grant from Arts Council England will be used to support Trinity through its recovery plan as well as help us to adapt existing projects and move activities online. As this is also a very difficult time for artists and freelance practitioners, Trinity is committing 20% of its grant to pay independent artists and community members for contributions to 'Trinity Presents'. This will include online workshops with Trinity's Associate Artist and local resident, Roxanna Vilk.

"Never have the Arts been more important than now, in these peculiar times. Singing, dancing, painting, drama, poetry - people are reaching out to all the art forms for nourishment, comfort, entertainment & wisdom. We mustn’t starve our imaginations & Trinity has a part to play in refreshing & delighting its followers. I’m thrilled to be one of them." Miriam Margolyes OBE, Trinity Patron

Trinity will be releasing information about an open-call commission for an independent D/Deaf or disabled artist to create a new piece of digital work.

Speaking of the recent support, Tom Marshman, Board Member and Local Artist said:

“Not really a time for a massive celebration party, more of an opportunity to take a breath and pause whilst we all stabilize ourselves and look forward to life after isolation. With this promise of the Emergency Arts Council Grant, Trinity can feel more assured that they will continue to be at the heart of Bristol culture and community engagement that is always people centred”.

Since we began our lockdown Trinity has been working hard to ensure that we continue to reach out to our community and support the independent artists that we work with. We have been providing a digital platform via Trinity Presents. Arts Council support at this crucial point, means we can continue this offer as well as find new ways to support artists to connect communities with relevant and much needed cultural experiences.

Before the lockdown a student takes part in a piano lesson in Trinity's music studios. Photo @ KoLAB Studios

When lockdown restrictions were announced Trinity's Music Team worked to move Making Tracks activity online.

So now instead of sessions in our building, young people meet with Tutors online for weekly music making sessions.

Since Mar 16, the team have worked with over 15 young people delivering music production workshops in: vocal tuition, guitar and bass tuition, songwriting, music production and skill sharing sessions. Tutors have also been creating online content, including short videos in industry skills and improving musical abilities. Emerging musicians from Making Tracks including Sam Neal have provided soundtracks.

"It's a lifeline. He loves it. It's really good for his mental health and autism to have these sessions scheduled during this time. It's really, really helping. Thank you so much'.

Parent of a Trinity Making Tracks young person

Partners ACE and Basement Studios continue to provide provisions, including checking in with young people online and providing workshops and bespoke masterclasses.

Trinity have hosted a virtual 3rd Space meeting, where organisations who provide music services for young people across Bristol come together and talk about ideas.

Making Tracks team members have also joined Youth Music’s online sessions; learning from and inputting to the wider sector transition to online working, safeguarding and working with young people who might not have access to equipment.

Making Tracks is supported by Youth Music and using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England, as well as support from match funders.

Pete teaches Drum, Piano and Live Performance on Making Tracks - our life changing Music Making Project with Basement Studios and Aspiration Creation Elevation C.I.C.

From his home, he has recorded this short video explaining piano triads and how to play Otis Redding's 'Lean On Me'.

Making Tracks is supported by Youth Music and using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England, as well as support from match funders.

This is brought to you by Trinity Presents. Click here to see more arts, community, well-being and education content or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Trinity are working with external artists, partners and organisations as part of Trinity Presents Online to provide exciting content, relevant to Trinity's diverse audiences and in line with our Equal Opportunities and Free Speech Policies. Click here for more information about our Policies. While we endeavour to ensure content we share is relevant and appropriate, Trinity is not responsible for individual content created by third parties.

This is brought to you by Trinity Presents. Click here to see more arts, community, well-being and education content or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Trinity are working with external artists, partners and organisations as part of Trinity Presents Online to provide exciting content, relevant to Trinity's diverse audiences and in line with our Equal Opportunities and Free Speech Policies. Click here for more information about our Policies. While we endeavour to ensure content we share is relevant and appropriate, Trinity is not responsible for individual content created by third parties.

Making Tracks Tutor Pete is a drummer, keyboard and piano, backing vocalist and percussion player who has industry skills and experience in live performance, touring, street performance, studio work, event promotion, sound engineering, stage coordination, festival booking and organisation.

Pete plays in Bristol based Hip Hop outfit Almatic, as well as hot jazz and swing band the Gin Bowlers, and Bluegrass and Country band Feral Mouth. As well as multi tasking the management of several projects including running a rehearsal studio, providing PA and backline to events around Bristol and Norfolk, he teaches drums from his studio in Bristol.

We're really missing our regular community events, so while the building is closed we have asked some of the groups and classes to tell us about their activities, who takes part in their classes and some of the great things they have achieved so far.

Rachel James from The Original Spinners kindly sent us a lovely little video about Dance For Parkinson's.

The class is for people with Parkinson's, partners and carers and is all about creativity, fun, and an excellent playlist.

Rachel shares some of their highlights from gentle exercises to performances at Bristol Harbour Festival.

You can see more #TrinityPresents videos alongside activities to take part in, live streams and much more by making sure you like and follow our page.

This is brought to you by Trinity Presents. Click here to see more arts, community, well-being and education content or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Trinity are working with external artists, partners and organisations as part of Trinity Presents Online to provide exciting content, relevant to Trinity's diverse audiences and in line with our Equal Opportunities and Free Speech Policies. Click here for more information about our Policies. While we endeavour to ensure content we share is relevant and appropriate, Trinity is not responsible for individual content created by third parties.

Singer-songwriter, composer and musician, Nuala Honan, joined Trinity for a livestream single launch for new single, Head Undone.

‘Head Undone’ is the second single from Bristol-based, Australia-born, independent artist, Nuala Honan’s second album, which launches later this year.

This is brought to you by Trinity Presents. Click here to see more arts, community, well-being and education content or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Trinity are working with external artists, partners and organisations as part of Trinity Presents Online to provide exciting content, relevant to Trinity's diverse audiences and in line with our Equal Opportunities and Free Speech Policies. Click here for more information about our Policies. While we endeavour to ensure content we share is relevant and appropriate, Trinity is not responsible for individual content created by third parties.

We asked two of our tutors, Bethany Stenning and Oliver Cocup, for their top tips on self-releasing your music.

Here at Trinity, all the music tutors who work with the young people who take part in Making Tracks programme (teaching music to young people) are also professional musicians working in the industry.

If you have any questions, or want to know more about Making Tracks, get in touch with our Making Tracks Music Tutors at info@trinitybristol.org.uk

This is brought to you by Trinity Presents. Click here to see more arts, community, well-being and education content or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Trinity are working with external artists, partners and organisations as part of Trinity Presents Online to provide exciting content, relevant to Trinity's diverse audiences and in line with our Equal Opportunities and Free Speech Policies. Click here for more information about our Policies. While we endeavour to ensure content we share is relevant and appropriate, Trinity is not responsible for individual content created by third parties.