A powerful new exhibition celebrating the voices, cultures, and lived experiences of Wolverhampton’s diverse communities will open to the public this May at the Mander Centre Community Hub.

Recipes of Resilience, an Arts Council England funded project led by Sri Lankan-born human rights and women’s rights advocate Damayanthi Muthukumaranage, brings together months of grassroots creative work shaped by people across the city. The exhibition will run from 8th to 10th May and is free for the public to attend.

At its heart, Recipes of Resilience is more than an art exhibition. It is a collective story of identity, belonging, and shared humanity. Participants from different cultural, social, and generational backgrounds have come together through a series of creative workshops, exploring storytelling through food, poetry, clay, and visual art.

Many of the final pieces reflect multiple perspectives within a single work, with some artworks representing the voices of three or more different communities. The result is a deeply layered and collaborative exhibition that reflects the true spirit of Wolverhampton.

The project has been developed in partnership with City of Sanctuary Wolverhampton, the University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton Art Gallery, and several local community groups, ensuring broad participation and meaningful engagement across the city.

Visitors can expect an immersive and emotionally engaging experience. The exhibition space has been thoughtfully designed to move beyond traditional gallery formats, incorporating installation elements such as a central dining table display of handmade clay pieces, symbolic sculptural forms, and a striking fabric installation representing the female experience. Through carefully curated lighting and spatial design, the exhibition invites audiences to step into a shared space of reflection, empathy, and connection.

Damayanthi Muthukumaranage said:
“This project was born from a simple idea — that when people sit together, share stories, and create together, something powerful happens. Wolverhampton is a city of many stories, and this exhibition is a reflection of that strength, resilience, and unity.”

The creative production and media for the project has been led by Humanity Media CIC, with filmmaker Diyodi Menon supporting the visual storytelling and documentation of the journey.

Recipes of Resilience offers a rare opportunity for the public to experience a body of work that is not created by a single artist, but by a community. It stands as a testament to the power of art as a tool for connection, healing, and social change.

The exhibition is open from 10am to 5pm on 8th, 9th, and 10th May at the Mander Centre Community Hub in Wolverhampton. Entry is free, and all are welcome.