Welcome to INYBB...
We're all about connection through creativity. We run arts and writing programmes that bring people together in meaningful ways. We run artist-led programmes that are person-centred and support people to express themselves in ways that are helpful to them as experts in their own lives.
The 3am Project - Online Exhibition
Have you taken a trip to our nocturnal wonderland yet?
Visit our 3am Project Online Gallery and journey into a world of creativity
inspired by dream states and witching hour wonder.
Inspired by a letter from Surrey History Centre's archives from Frank Baker to his love Isabel, we invited words and artworks inspired by this middle of the night moment and were overwhelmed by the response receiving over 500 entries from around the UK and around the world!
Our online exhibition shares a curated collection of some of the finest,
including the winners of our Open Call competition,
Bambang Trisunu (TTNP_), Martin Huxter, Faith Falayi & Jiatong Liu.
The 3am Project was developed as part of Lost Letters, our Heritage Lottery funded, arts & heritage project in partnership with Surrey History Centre.
For more details on Lost Letters and access to free creative resources, go to
www.lostletters.space
Lost Letters Creative Challenges
Inspired by letters found in the archives at Surrey History Centre, why not give our creative challenges a go...
Smile in my Pocket (pdf)
Writing Through Time (pdf)
Frank Baker 3am 14th July 1939 Original Letter with Full Transcript (pdf)
About INYBB
At It's Not Your Birthday But… we're all about the power of connecting with others through letters, words and visual arts.
We work in a range of community settings from care homes to schools, hospitals to hospices, prisons to wellbeing groups. We place artists in each setting to inspire others to share what's important or helpful to them through creativity. Most of our work is with young people and young adults aged 14-21 who are in custody or not in mainstream education.
We aim to ensure everyone we work with is given a platform to be well and truly heard in the wider community. We join up different parts of a community who would not otherwise meet. We hope this leads to greater understanding, empathy and continued engagement between people or groups who may otherwise walk past each other on the street or assume they have nothing in common. We challenge the labels society puts on us as mass groups (the vulnerable, the elderly, NEETs, the hard-to-reach, young offenders, the terminally ill to name a few) and share and celebrate the creativity in us all.
Our programme comes in three forms:
- artist-led: one of our team shares a skill or technique that others are invited to try
- creative wellbeing: we provide a safe and supportive space for creative expression, reflection and exploration
- co-creation; we work together to create an artwork through a collaborative process
We offer space and support for people to engage with their own creativity, imaginations and words and share the results with others. Words and images that enable them to share what's important or helpful to them, connect as equals with others, build imaginary worlds and explore new pathways. We have a focus on using creativity to support those who come after us in any given environment, whether that is through improving a space with art or changing the culture to benefit the community in any given setting.
We run stand-alone workshops as well as programmes of work in single or linked settings. It's important for our work that it is artist-led, as we believe that arts and creativity can be a liberating and enriching experience for everyone. We work with writers, poets, visual artists, designers and theatre practitioners who share, not just their work, but aspects of themselves and their lives to inspire others to do the same. We draw out what we have in common and highlight human connections and shared values.
We're based in Hinchley Wood and most of our work takes places in our local area across North Surrey and the London Boroughs of Kingston-upon-Thames, Richmond and Hounslow. We're focused on building sustainable local partnerships that enable us to help our community develop its creativity and come together.
Word power
At a time when human beings are tweeting, refreshing, scrolling, uploading and searching for connection and engagement through digital devices more than ever before, we celebrate the power of handwritten words, arts and crafts to truly connect people in meaningful and positive ways.
Whatever we're searching for on our devices (connection, acceptance, attention?) we don't always find it. Some words, a letter, an artwork or a small act of kindness can sometimes be a much better way to understand others and connect with them.
Why are we called It's Not Your Birthday But...? Why wait for birthdays to communicate by post and let people know what they mean to you? An unexpected letter, card or painting sent on a normal day can mean so much more.
Drawings by Erika Flowers
Sign up to our mailing list to keep in touch with what we're up to here and ways to get involved.
As we're all about letters, the best way to get our attention is to jot us a line and pop it in a postbox to
It's Not Your Birthday But...
The Old Bank House
26 Station Approach
Hinchley Wood
Surrey KT10 0SR
itsnotyourbirthdaybut@gmail.com
It's Not Your Birthday But… do not share your details with any organisation. We take your privacy seriously and are aware of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
If you no longer wish to receive email updates from It's Not Your Birthday But… please let us know by emailing itsnotyourbirthdaybut@gmail.com.
Copyright © 2018 It's Not Your Birthday But - All Rights Reserved.
We're a not-for-profit Community Interest Company, registered with Companies House (Registered Company Number 9784441).
This website uses cookies. Sadly, non-edible.
We use cookies to analyse website traffic and optimise your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data. Privacy Policy