Each month, Nikki Wilson interviews an Ignite Member, asking five simple questions, to find out what creativity means to them, and how they see culture and creativity, and its potential, in Chelmsford. This month Nikki talks to Sade Fadipe.

Way back in the mid 80's my secondary dance teacher invited my friends and I to go to the Blue Coat Chambers Art Gallery in the heart of Liverpool city centre to take part in a cross-arts project.

Whatever you think of it, STEAM is a label – the word we use to represent a concept – and there are plenty of unhelpful but widely-used labels around, so I’m not going to pick that particular fight. The STEAM movement is, in fact, something brilliant, and I’d like to talk a little about what it means and why it’s important.

For some time the Ignite Cultural Partnership has been aware of a growing desire and established need for a collaborative community creative space in Chelmsford’s City Centre.

Chelmsford Community Radio started in 2013 and we gained our FM license nearly 5 years ago. We are proud of the wonderful platform that has evolved over all this time and how it benefits local people of all ages. Hopefully many of you will have taken part in a show or project of ours already.

Chelmsford Community Radio started in 2013 and we gained our FM license nearly 5 years ago. We are proud of the wonderful platform that has evolved over all this time and how it benefits local people of all ages. Hopefully many of you will have taken part in a show or project of ours already.

Here are a few personal thoughts and reflections on that ‘difficult’ third Light Parade.

March’s Ignite meet-up was held at the newly renovated Essex Print Studio in Ingatestone.

In February's meet-up we listened to two wonderful speakers about the way their organisations can help to enhance an individuals lives.

The theme for January’s Ignite meetup was Games, Spaces and Community Places, which was hosted, appropriately, by local board game shop Counter Culture Games.

The theme for the night was ‘The Art of Growing’ so we were in the perfect location-with low lighting to make it a magical and enchanting environment.

Our theme this month was Creative Technology and Digital Arts.

Originally Inspired by quantum physics and the idea that we are made of the same elements as everything in the universe Black Chapel (Steve Mortimer) set out to explore the theme of connection; raising questions about our relationships to ourselves, each other, nature and the planet through a multi-media performance Connect.

With over 500 events, competitions, exhibitions and recordings, it has been a brilliant year of science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics (STEAM) right across Essex. As Essex 2020 -Year of Science & Creativity draws to a close, plans are actively underway to build on this legacy in 2021.

It was recently bought to our attention that local resident Gareth Roberts was collaborating with Chelmsford City Council Parks' team on an initiative called 'Project in the Paint' to spruce up a Basket Ball Court on Chelmer Village Green.

First up was Bucky Ringsell, owner of Chelmsford’s independent comics shop Dark Side Comics, who delved into gender and queer representation in the Marvel universe.

June’s Ignite Chelmsford meet-up was buzzing with a friendly, community vibe from familiar and new ignite attendees. The subject to be discussed was Independent/small press publishing, focusing on zines and comics.

Hopefully by now if you’re a resident of Chelmsford, you have seen and maybe heard the tinkling of the ivories of the community piano in the Meadows Shopping Centre in the middle of the city.

Thanks to all who came out to A Canteen Thursday night, it was a special one! With a more relaxed and intimate feel than usual, a good 20 people huddled in on the sofas and chatted about what’s next for Ignite meet ups.

Ignite Chelmsford each month takes over spaces in the most unexpected places, in the true DIY subculture way this month Hotbox skate shop hosted the meet up.