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About
Tappin’ In brings creative opportunities directly into communities. We meet people where they are, creating in places that are familiar, welcoming and accessible to them.
Rooted in working-class experience, we make things with people, rather than simply bringing something to them. We recognise that every community has its own stories, relationships, experiences and identity.
Wherever possible, we collaborate with local artists, bringing people together to learn from each other, share experiences and try something new. We want the relationships, confidence and connections developed through our projects to remain within communities and continue to grow long after our involvement ends.
At the heart of what we do are joyful, inclusive experiences where people can make, share, learn and connect. What we create matters, but so does what people take away from being part of it: new skills, confidence, wellbeing, friendships, pride and a sense of belonging.
Tappin’ In began with a project for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Culture Programme. That experience shaped the way we work today and has grown into a wider body of community-led creative work.
We believe in the power of people coming together to make and experience the creative arts.
Voices From Our Community
It was an absolute pleasure to see and feel the joy and achievement of all of the dancers. What an amazing project to be part of. Thank you - freelancer
Love, love loved this so much - participant
Absolutely great performance. I loved every minute of it - audience
Our wellbeing is always being considered, I have never known this – freelancer
I loved it! Such a wonderful way to spend my Saturday afternoon – audience member
Huge mood and confidence
builder and boosted my wellbeing.
Improved anxiety levels
- participant
The Team
Stephanie Ridings
Founder & Artistic Director
Stephanie is a writer and performance-maker working across a range of genres. She developed the idea for Tappin’ In when working as a writer and feeling isolated.
Her own work includes The Fear of Fear, commissioned by Warwick Arts Centre; The Road to Huntsville, a China Plate Bitesize commission and winner of an Arts Voice award, published by Nick Hern Books; Dylan’s Parents for Live Lunch at the Royal Court; and Unknown Male, co-produced with Birmingham REP, winner of the Peter Brook/Mark Marvin award.
Her work for others includes audio series Walk With Me 2 & 3 for Talking Birds and Humans at Work for Coventry City of Culture/Warwick Arts Centre. For Talking Birds, she has produced Art for the People (a citizen’s assembly on arts and culture), as well as Neighbourhood Creative Day, Walk With Me 4 and Capsule.
Philippa Cross
Board Member
Philippa Cross is a freelance producer, project manager and facilitator who supports individuals and small arts companies, particularly with project and organisational development, evaluation and fundraising, as well as coaching individuals and teams. With nearly 30 years’ experience in arts policy and management, she has most recently worked as Executive Director of Talking Birds Theatre Company in Coventry, and as a board member of the ITC, and is passionate about community, access, and making things better. She has previously worked for Tate, West Midlands Arts, Arts Council England WM and Creative Partnerships Coventry, and with a wide range of freelance clients, bringing her skills in strategic planning, financial and project management, evaluation and keen questioning to help develop people, organisations and ideas. She holds an MA in European Cultural Policy and a Diploma in Coaching from the University of Warwick. She also makes quilts.
Paul Roberts
Board Member
Paul has worked in the cultural sector for over twenty years, in senior development roles at operational, managerial, and consultancy level. He has led on a number of major, and award-winning, strategic arts, heritage, community, and cultural partnership initiatives, working across public, third, and private sectors, and within higher education. An art history graduate, his academic interest covers cultural policy, theatre consultancy and post-war British theatre development, publishing, writing and teaching at BA, MA, and PhD level. Paul is a graduate of Northumbria, Sheffield, and Warwick universities, as well as the Central School of Speech and Drama at the University of London.
We Believe ...
The arts are for everyone
Everyone should have the chance to take part, whatever their age, background, experience or circumstances.
People should have a say
We create with people, not just for them. Those involved help shape what we do.
Everyone has a story worth hearing
We celebrate the experiences, memories, cultures and places that make us who we are.
Joy matters
We believe in creativity, connection, pride and having a go. You don’t have to be perfect.
People come first
Everyone involved in our projects should feel welcomed, respected, supported and safe.
Great art can be made anywhere
We believe ambitious, high-quality creative experiences can be made with and for communities.
Different voices matter
We respect and value different cultures, experiences, perspectives and creative traditions.
We care about our impact
We don’t have a building of our own. We use existing spaces and places that communities already know, drawing on local knowledge and resources wherever possible and making choices that are good for people and the planet.