pARTicipate is a three-year programme developed from a partnership between HMR, Oldham Borough Council, Rochdale Borough Council and Arts Council North West. We recognise the findings of a wealth of research about the value that culture and arts can play within communities, particularly those undergoing regeneration. These benefits can range from improving the physical quality of the local environment to building stronger community relationships and community identity.
pARTicipate is supported by the National Lottery through Arts Council England’s Grants for the Arts scheme which has awarded HMR £50,000. Arts Council England works to get great art to everyone by championing, developing and investing in artistic experiences that enrich people’s lives. Grants for the Arts is the main open application programme through which it distributes money from the National Lottery to a wide range of organisations and individual artists. www.artscouncil.org.uk
The pARTicipate programme is exploring and evaluating different ways of integrating art and the use of artists into the process of change within HMR neighbourhoods. Seven arts and cultural projects will be developed over the next three years, and projects will aim to bring residents together in creative ways, and find new ways of looking at everyday things.
Artists and creatives will be assigned to work within and across our intervention neighbourhoods, supporting our work by focusing on the following key themes:
- Sense of place
- Community cohesion and integration
- Engagement and empowerment
Most of the projects are still in the planning phase and a range of creative possibilities are being considered including film projects and temporary installations on sites earmarked for development. One project already underway is 'Love Sholver'.
