We were commissioned by Reimagine Redditch to work with the young people of the Imaan Youth Club and co-create with them an immersive experience inspired by the Miracle of the Bees. At its heart, the project was about celebrating the creativity and voices of young Muslims in Redditch and to give them the opportunity to experience new ways to express themselves.
The group had been learning about bees for over a year, inspired by verse 68 of the Quran dedicated to the bee. The ambition was to transform their knowledge into an experience to educate on the significance of bees in the Quran (Surah an-Nahl) and their vital role in the environment. Combined with a call to action for the people of Redditch and beyond to support and protect the bee ecosystem.
Collaboration and co-creation is something we’re incredibly passionate about. Truly working together for something better than we could do apart.
Over a 6-month period, we worked with the Imaan Youth Group in Redditch to co-create an immersive experience exploring the significance of bees in the Quran and the environment. Working from concept to realisation, we engaged young people and volunteers in a series of creative workshops designed to foster confidence, artistic expression, and develop skills to collaborate.
Included in our team was Zoya Ahmed who worked to explore and develop sound, and Gemma Costin working to engage the young people's noses to create a scentcape for the final experience. Also working as part of our team was Abeda Begum to create the fabric elements. The group was incredibly lucky to be visited and learn more about bees from Ryad Alsous, the real beekeeper of Aleppo.
Our socially engaged approach supported the development of co-creation skills across the group — from young participants to the volunteer women — while introducing creative practices that can be embedded into the youth club’s ongoing curriculum.
The project culminated in a youth-led immersive experience that brought together the wider Redditch community. The Miracle of the Bees transformed a retail unit in the Kingfisher Shopping Centre into an interactive, multi-sensory space.
Following a week-long installation process, the experience launched with a vibrant opening event and ran for four additional days — attracting over 200 visitors a day. Children’s confidence and skills increased significantly over the project and they became incredible tour guides while the experience was open.
There were a number of things to experience within the space, beginning with visitors becoming bees themselves by making and wearing an antennae before navigating a scent filled tunnel where they learnt all about bees and had a quest to collect pollen. At the end of their journey they entered a hive of dripping honey and left their offering of pollen for the queen bee.
During their time with us, the young people learnt that not only honey produced by bees was healing, but so was the sound created by their wings. One space was dedicated to solo reflection while listening to bees.
The space was alive with creativity, conversation, and curiosity, leaving a lasting impression on all who attended. It was, quite literally, a great buzz!
Visitors over 4 days
960Bee legs made
138Workshop hours
58“I had the absolute delight of working with Vortex Creates for the Miracle of the Bees project in Redditch in 2025. It was a joy to see them working with young people, building up their confidence, and creating a brilliant immersive experience that clearly incorporated the young people’s ideas and vision. As a programmer who leads a Creative People and Places programme, nothing is more impactful than hearing a young person exclaim, that’s mine!’ about an artwork they’ve created that a team of talented artists have in turn curated in a high-quality immersive experience. This is what they do. Nicola’s and Marianne’s creative vision mixed with their determination and drive to get the show on the road was invaluable to the success of the project. Not only do they possess a tried and tested approach to co-creating artistic work, but their approach saw them generously sharing their own practice with the young people. That collaborative spirit, artistic kindness, and the fun they engender into their work is why you can’t miss an opportunity to work with them. ”–Richard Bromhall, Reimagine Redditch Programme Director
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