Made in Smethwick

Made in Smethwick was an exciting heritage project celebrating Sandwell’s rich industrial past, led by Chance Heritage Trust and funded by the UK Community Renewal Fund. Delivered by DigVentures with local partners that included the University of Birmingham and The Living Memory Project, the programme brought communities together to rediscover and engage with the legacy of Chance Brothers Glassworks and Soho Foundry.

Running from March to October 2022, the project engaged over 2,000 people through a dynamic mix of heritage walks, creative workshops, talks, and digital storytelling. The project also created the ongoing Chance Lighthouse Mapping Project, a global collaboration tracing historic Smethwick-made lenses in lighthouses worldwide.

The project reached local families, young people, and international audiences, making Sandwell’s industrial heritage more accessible, inspiring, and relevant. Participants gained new skills in photography, filmmaking, and heritage research, while a final festival celebration brought the community together with performances, activities, and exhibitions.

Made in Smethwick successfully raised the profile of these important sites and kickstarted a new era of community-led heritage regeneration. The legacy of this project will continue, shaping the future of Chance Glassworks and Soho Foundry with the voices and interests of local people at its heart.