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.