‘Taxi!”

… a really exciting new verd de gris project starts next month – ‘TAXI!’

This project will involve working with two groups from our cherished community of taxi drivers! Film maker and photographer Geoff Brokate will spend time with and shadow drivers as they go on their daily routes … eavesdropping on stories and conversations that fill the cabs on a daily basis.

We will work with drivers mainly from the Pakistani community – either private hire, Hackney cab, small scale operators across Calderdale. He will also work with targeted groups of drivers from the wider community – to explore, similarity and contrast with the culture of the profession.

Geoff will also be looking at the culture and tradition of drivers back home in Pakistan – e.g. the highly ornamental decoration of the vans, the status of the drivers, why they come into the profession in the first place.

Working with the support of Counsellor Faisal Shoukat and Sail Suleman from Calderdale MBC, we are looking for a more positive image of this community – we plan to meet around 10 drivers from each community … with a view to working closely with a set number of individuals.

This will be another cross community project devised and delivered by verd de gris in partnership with Square Chapel’s Creative Communities initiative

Stay with us on this – it’s going to be fascinating!