What we do

Reel Connections uses film, music and the creative arts to connect people, groups and communities, delivering a range of creative projects, events, screenings and activities with people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds.

Our activities are designed to build on people’s enjoyment of film, music and the creative arts to improve wellbeing, and develop new skills and opportunities.

We are passionate about increasing creative participation and engagement for all, particularly for audiences who experience social and rural isolation.

Explore a summary of some of our projects below, or get in touch for more information.

MUSIC ON MY MIND

If you’re anything like us, you’ll still remember the first record you ever bought. Music has probably been the soundtrack to all the major events in your life ever since. It also connects us to other people; a social experience in which nearly everyone shares!

Music on My Mind is a project designed to encourage positive discussion around men’s mental health through the shared enjoyment of popular music. Supported by the National Lottery Community Fund

Our monthly Record Club is inspired by the growth of album listening clubs such as ‘Classic Album Sundays’. The meetings are a friendly and informal opportunity listen to a classic album on vinyl, before discussing the record together. Record Club is supported by Norfolk Community Foundation through the Public Health Empowering Communities for Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund, Norwich Freemen’s Charity, Norfolk Library and Information Service, and Norwich Theatre.

You can also check out our series of podcasts where we chatted with guests like David Hepworth and Jon Robb, discuss their careers and what music means to them, and explore the extraordinary power of music to connect all of us.

COURSES AND WORKSHOPS

We offer a range of courses and workshops for all ages and abilities including The Reel Connections Learning Hub, an online learning programme specialising in film and music theory courses.

The hub offers a unique programme of competitively priced courses and workshops, created and led by highly experienced tutors and practitioners.

Our aim is to produce fun and informal courses, with excellent content and development opportunities, that offer opportunities to meet and study with a small group of like-minded people.

EXHIBITIONS

The Reel Connections team have coordinated and researched a range of exhibitions that explore music, art and film, which have been held across the UK.

Take a look at some of our previous exhibitions, including The Beatles on Film, The Beatles in Twickenham and a retrospective of artist Alfred Cohen, by clicking the button below.

FILMMAKING

We have developed and delivered a number of creative filmmaking projects with children and young people. Our team has a broad range of experience of practical filmmaking and film theory, working with a range of schools and communities.

Previous projects have included Common Ground a creative film-making project with young people inspired by natural heritage, and ACT NOW! a thoughtful collection of short films created by young people in South Norfolk. Click the button below to find out more about our filmmaking projects.

If you’d like to talk to us about a project then get in touch.

SCREENINGS AND ARCHIVE FILM

Reel Connections has worked on a variety of pop-up screenings and archive film events, partnering with local film archives and the British Film Institute’s Film Audience Network to bring archive film alive in new ways, and to engage a broader range of audiences in specialised film.

These projects have included REVOLUTIONS, a programme of pop-up screenings of films that shine a light on some of the diverse creative and political voices that have challenged and transformed both music and society, SOUND OF SILENTS, a range of screening events bringing regional archive film alive through live original music, and FOREVER YOUNG, a touring compilation of archive film exploring youth culture and representation.

Young Film Programmers

A Young Film Programmer’s Group is a team of 16-30-year olds who meet to programme, publicise and deliver film screenings in areas where cinema provision for young and diverse audiences remains inconsistent and/or below average.

The Young Film Programmer’s strategy aims to increase young people’s awareness and enjoyment of specialised film whilst providing more opportunities for people to engage with independent film and cinemas.

FILM EAST

As part of the Young Film Programmers project, we supported the development of Film East, a multi-award-winning global film organisation based in the East of England and the East Coast of the United States.

Since its founding in Norwich, UK in 2019, the group has provided a global platform for young audiences to experience and interact with film.