For People; we bring people together to share skills, ideas, resources, and mutual support. We do this through creative activities like sewing, art, and music.
For Planet; we help protect our planet by re-using, remaking, and repairing as much as we can, and sharing the skills and knowledge to do this with our communities.
Make Good Arts was created in 2015 by artist Alison Clawley, Arts Development professional Julie Pope, and Art Historian Jo Butler.
We teach, guide, help, share, and inspire people of all ages to make amazing things, using textiles, print, photography, upcycled and reclaimed materials, and a lot of ideas and fun.
Our Team
Jo Butler – she/her
Co-Director and chair of Make Good Arts
I am a museum curator and historian who has worked on creative projects with lead artist Alison since the 2000s. Over the last 20 years, I’ve run arts events and workshops, and curated arts and heritage collections, in London, Staffordshire, and the Midlands. I also volunteer at Lichfield Foodbank and have been active in the managing committee and running social media.
I’m passionate about sewing and love supporting people to develop their skills and find their creativity. When I’m not at my sewing machine, you can find me singing in a band or volunteering at music festivals. I grew up in Birmingham and now live in Derbyshire.
Alison Clawley – she/her
Co-Director of Make Good Arts and Lead Artist
With a background in dressmaking, fashion history, and fine art, I have been sewing since the age of 6, making things since I can remember, and running community arts workshops for around 20 years. I started to Make Good Arts with Julie and Jo in 2015, after several years working in Birmingham City Council’s Arts Team, being inspired by all the creative things going on in communities all over the city and wanting to make our contribution!
I’m also a home-educating single mum and proud to be part of a neurodivergent family! I grew up in Birmingham, and have lived in Sandwell for the last four years, still finding my way around and learning about all the wonderful things going on in the area. I get a bit overexcited by fabrics, colors, science, paint, and big ideas, and love learning new things and helping people to find their creative spark. Also cake. Love that.
Julie Pope – she/her
Co-Director and Secretary of Make Good Arts
Julie has been involved in arts and heritage in the Midlands for most of her working life, and has a passion for projects that are inclusive, accessible, creative, and most of all fun! She has many years of experience advising organisations on sustainability, inclusion and diversity, and enjoys music, comedy, and spoken word as her art forms of choice.
Ellie Hewer / Singamajig
Project Lead – Sing From The Start / Sing Together
My current titles include… singer, music enthuser, Head of Music, worm farmer, lover of Birmingham, champion eater, a believer that friends are chosen family, wife, mummy to daughter and cats!
For me, music is a universal language that we all share. It welcomes and embraces diversity on every level. Music heals, lifts the spirits, focuses the mind, and draws us in to become a member of its family.
I studied music at the University of Birmingham and taught in schools across the city for many years. Singamajig was born out of a desire to do more music-making in my own community and to work in an intergenerational way to spread the message that singing is for everyone.
Czarena Brown
Project Assistant – Sing From The Start and Place
I am a singer, songwriter, and DJ. I also enjoy mentoring and teaching others the things I am most passionate about. I also love to dance. I like art and also work at an art gallery. I am quite spiritual and believe in manifestation. Despite my dislike for hay fever and insects, I love being out in nature. I have a 3-year-old daughter, 5 sisters and tons of nephews and nieces. I love my big family.
My creative journey started with writing as a child then my passion for music also turned into songwriting. I love music, I think it is my first love. I have the most fun with music and learned a lot about myself because of music. I’ve learned my love for singing, dancing, and performing. I trained as a dancer from 4 years old and then in musical theatre when I was 7. Since then I haven’t stopped. I believe everything is art and try to appreciate all things around me.
Callie Derbyshire
Project assistant – Sing from the Start and Homespun, Project Lead – Place
Joining the Make Good team in 2023, Callie is a visual artist and film student who has provided invaluable creative support on our Homespun and Sing from the Start projects.
Azaria Marismari
Project Assistant – Sew Together and Homespun
Textile artist Azaria joined the team in 2023 for our Homespun and Sew Together projects, providing creative support in workshops.
MAKE GOOD ARTS 