Janet Chand retired from a management career in health and social care . An advocate against gender based violence, she was initially involved in the Art Council England funded 1 in 3 projects before running creative woprkshops on the Battle of Wodensfield 910 AD and Lady Aelthelflaed, Lady of the Mercians, at Wolverhampton Art Gallery.
These workshops resulted in an exhibition with Asylum Art Galley.
She's performed at open mics and festivals and is a regular poet at Quattery in Victoria Street in Wolverhampton. She's performed at Wolverhampton Literature Festival and ARTiculating Her Voice.
Janet was a lead facilitator writing and delivering on Recipe of Resilience workshops which were also funded by Arts Council England and delivered with Humanity Media CIC. Humanity Media CIC is a community arts organisation creating films, workshops and creative projects that amplify voices, build connections and inspire positive social change.
Through these sessions poetry became a space for expression, connectiion and healing, allowing voices and personal stories to be shared in a supportive environment with Damayanthi Muthukumaranage leading and delivering the project.
Over 6 weeks those gatherings became much more than poertry workshops. They became a space for deep conversations, shared stories, laughter and meaningful connection. Participants supported one another, opened up about personal experiences and reminded each other that no one has to share their journey alone.
Through poetry, reflection and honest dialogue the group slowly grew into something very special. Friendships were formed, trust was built and a true sense of community emerged. What started as a workshop became a small family where everyone felt safe to share, listen and grow together.
There were other creative Arts Council England funded workshops as part of Recipes of Resilience - Creative Cafe cooking sessions as part of the Wolverhampton City of Sanctuary project. These sessions created a welcoming space for participants to explore creativity, share conversations and connect with one another through art.
They offered empowerment and resilience while highlighting the power of creativity in building community, supporting mental wellbeing and creating a sense of belonging. There was then the 3 day exhibition in the Mander Centre in Wolverhampton. This was not a normal exhibition. Recipes of Resilience was an immersive journey through memory, identity, silence, resilience, food, migration, womanhood and human connection. Some parts were beautiful. Some parts were uncomfortable. Some parts reflected realities many people live through every day. The exhibition invited Wolverhampton to not just look at art but to feel it.
As a continuation, Janet now delivers a creative writing group at Wolverhampton Art Gallery. As a published writer of short stories and poems. She is completing 2 books for publication very soon (Memoirs of a Night Nurse and Will Ye Have a Cup of Tea..and a short read). This year, 6 poems/short stories have been published.
Janet spends time between Wolverhampton and Galway.
