Highfields Community Centre and Attenborough Arts Centre have collaborated on ‘Step into the Spotlight’, a new film and performance programme that engaged local communities from Highfields with their local arts and community spaces.

The project provided local children, young people, and families the opportunity to explore the connection between dance and film, led by the interests the participants, and supported by dance practitioners.

Currently both centres are working to improve their facilities for community use. Highfields Community Centre has a new youth wing, sports hall and a redeveloped theatre space, and Attenborough Arts Centre has a purpose-built public gallery and learning opportunities, with a building redevelopment beginning in November 2026.

Over 2026, co-producers Ferdous Hussein and Marianne Scahill-Pape have delivered:

• 16 dance and craft sessions across Highfields Community Centre and Attenborough Arts Centre.
• 2 film screenings with craft and movement, included ‘Ocean’ by David Attenborough and a Bollywood classic.
• 2 days of dance and celebrations at Attenborough Arts Centre, led by Nupur Arts and Dance Lead Ash.
• Gallery tour of the ‘Jason and the Adventure of 254’. Communication and translation support was provided by the artists who have grown to know the community well and translated key themes to support engagement.

The project engaged with a wide range of people, built a community partnership across the two venues, and allowed participants to co-create the programme by providing agency in the themes undertook. ‘Step into the Spotlight’ enabled both centres to bring everyone together and explore what would interest our local communities, to explore new ways of using our centres for film screenings and dance for wellbeing, to build creative and arts-based activity within Highfields, and support engagement with the wider creative industries.

Both centres have been able to get to know each participant, starting the beginning of a partnership with our local communities. This project was funded through Attenborough Arts Centre’s Arts Council England NPO funding, enabling community collaboration through the contemporary arts for all. Additional and extensive match funding was provided by each venue.

“This is the best day – I am so happy! This is our day – we can dance, and do what we want instead of being at home cooking all day!” Participant at celebration day.

“Thank you so much – I’ve never been in a gallery before – I didn’t know this was here – no one has ever taken me anywhere like this…I’d never know how to find it” – Participant on gallery tour.