Rise Up – Stars of Our Community

An artistic dedication

A project to highlight the contributions to the Stratford community by those who often remain unappreciated. See the installation of banners within Holy Trinity Church in November 2025, and read the dedications to treasured figures in the lives of the contributors.

People of Stratford
Event poster for My Unsung Hero! featuring a woman holding a paper star, with a dedication to her grandson, Jake, and event details for a community art celebration at Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-upon-Avon.
Angela's unsung hero
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CC BY 4.0
An infographic titled The hero dogs by Evie, featuring a personal story about the author's two rescue dogs, Trigger and Bill, and the positive impact they have had on her family.
Infographic titled Stratfords Fair Brewer, written by Richard, about Edward Fordham Flower and his positive impact on his employees and community in the nineteenth century.
Text graphic titled Crescent kindness by Shirley, describing how neighbours Conrad and Mindy supported their community during Covid by organising ingredient sharing and mowing lawns.
Text titled The familiar trousers by Julie, containing a personal story about a paramedic husband who comforted a person in crisis, along with reflections on the unseen emotional labour of supporting a first responder.
Mel! She just gives so much support and care to project participants and many others in her life and community
A person stands high on a covered platform, speaking from a pulpit in a church with stained glass windows, an organ, flags, and memorial plaques visible in the background.
Beginning the installation, November 2025.
Two people stand behind a tall lectern decorated with colourful stars and a sun drawing, inside a church with ornate stained glass windows and stone arches.
Escape Arts team in the pulpit, completing the installation.
A dark fabric panel covered with many colourful paper stars of various sizes and patterns stands inside a church, near wooden furniture and stone walls.
Stars of Our Community on display in Holy Trinity Church, November 2025.
Colourful, handmade paper stars with googly eyes and decorations are spread on a dark cloth. Some blank stars and supplies are nearby, along with a container holding more black star cut-outs.
Artwork close up
Two people hang a purple cloth on a stone pillar inside a church, one person standing on the ground and the other on a step, stained glass windows visible in the background.
Taken at Holy Trinity Church, 2025.
Two people decorate a stone pillar inside a church. One stands on a bench, the other on a ladder, both hanging a purple fabric with stars. Stained glass windows and wooden pews are visible in the background.
Escape Arts team installing artwork on a pillar in Holy Trinity Church, 2025.
Three women sit at a table in a church, smiling whilst making colourful paper stars. The table is covered with craft supplies and finished star decorations. Wooden pews and church details are visible in the background.
Escape Arts team, attaching stars to fabric for display
Four smiling people make colourful star crafts at a table in a church, with stained glass windows and stone arches visible in the background.
Two smiling women pose in front of a tall, arched stained glass window inside a building with stone features. One woman points excitedly at the window, whilst the other wears a purple knitted hat.
Escape Arts staff, Karen and Niamh, in Holy Trinity Church, November 2025.
A black and purple origami star flower with a vintage coin featuring a face at its centre, set against a blurred background with papers and other crafts.
Close up of a green and purple star
A dark fabric panel covered with many colourful paper stars of various sizes and patterns stands inside a church, near wooden furniture and stone walls.
Click on the buttons to see more stories of unsung heroes.