Activity: Create Your Identity Flag

Overview

In this activity, participants design a personal flag that represents who they are, what they value, and what they bring to our global singing community. Like the Rainbow Flag — created in 1978 by artist Gilbert Baker to symbolise unity, hope, and diversity within the LGBTQ+ community — these flags use colour, shape, and symbolism to express identity. Participants can display their finished flags during our Summer Sings: The World Cup celebration to create a vibrant visual chorus of voices from around the world.

Materials

• A4 or A3 blank paper (rectangular or flag‑template sheets)

• Colouring pencils, markers, or crayons

• Optional: Collage materials (fabric scraps, coloured paper, magazines)

• Glue, scissors, tape

• Optional digital tools (tablets, drawing apps)

• String, pegs, or Blu‑tack for display

Step‑by‑Step Instructions:

1. Introduce the Activity (5 minutes)

• Explain that national flags communicate identity, culture, and values — just like songs do in global events such as the World Cup.

• Share a brief story of the Rainbow Flag and how it was created to represent pride, diversity, and unity. Emphasise that everyone has aspects of themselves they can celebrate through a flag design.

2. Reflect on Personal Identity (5–10 minutes)

Invite participants to think about:

• What makes you you?

• What qualities, values, or passions do you bring to our singing community?

• What colours feel connected to your personality? Calm? Energetic? Warm? Bold?

• Are there shapes, symbols, or patterns that represent something important to you — music, heritage, hobbies, hopes, or dreams?

• You may offer quick prompts:

  • “A colour that represents how you feel when you sing is…”

  • “A symbol that shows something you’re proud of is…”

  • “A pattern that reminds you of your cultural background is…”

3. Plan Your Flag (5 minutes)

• Sketch ideas lightly.

• Encourage participants to think about layout: stripes, shapes, central symbols, borders, or abstract patterns.

• Remind them there is no single right way to design a flag — it is about expression, not perfection.

4. Create Your Flag (15–25 minutes)

• Use colours, shapes, symbols, or collage materials to bring the design to life.

• Participants can make it bold and simple like many national flags, or vibrant and multi‑layered like the Rainbow Flag.

• Encourage experimentation with texture (fabric), contrast (light/dark colours), or layering.

5. Add a Meaning Key (Optional, 5 minutes)

On the back or on a small card, participants can write:

• Why they chose their colours

• What the shapes or patterns mean

• Anything they want others to understand when they view the flag

This encourages reflection and builds confidence in articulating identity.

6. Share and Celebrate (10–15 minutes)

• Invite participants to present their flags to a partner, small group, or the whole ensemble.

• Encourage positive responses:

  • “I noticed…”

  • “I like how you used…”

  • “Your flag makes me think about…”

7. Display the Flags

• Collect all flags and hang them together as a “Gallery of Pride & Participation” for the Summer Sings: The World Cup event.

• Arrange them like bunting, group them by colours, or create a world‑map‑shaped installation.

• The display becomes a visual reminder that our voices — like our identities — are both unique and connected.

Optional Extensions

A. Connect to Music

• Ask participants to choose a song that matches the mood of their flag.

• Or create a group composition where each person contributes a musical motif inspired by their flag’s colours or shapes.

B. Pride Month Discussion

• Prompt conversations about how symbols help people feel seen and included.

• Explore how flags — from national to identity flags — support belonging, visibility, and community pride.

C. Collaborative Choir Flag

• Combine elements from individual flags (colours, shapes, motifs) into one large ensemble flag representing the whole group.