Arts Regeneration Programme
Regeneration Art Programme Blackpool’s Regeneration Art Programme (RAP) was a pilot programme funded by Blackpool Council, Arts Council England North West and Heritage Lottery Fund.
The RAP programme aims were to:
• work with the communities in the seafront wards to directly effect the regeneration of the town.
• work with local, regional and national artists in the delivery of innovative programmes of creativity.
• link communities with existing creative opportunities within Blackpool, such as the Grundy, and use them to their advantage.
The RAP programme delivered a number of projects in Blackpool, for example:
Enlightenment and 4 Wards Lighting Projects
We initially commissioned two artists to work with the communities of the seafront wards of Blackpool to produce their own piece of illuminated artwork. In partnership with the Illuminations depot, the artists, Sarah Galloway and Clare McGarrigle, ran workshops and sessions within schools, community groups and libraries. They worked with over 300 members of the community to design and install Enlightenment, an illuminated artwork for the 2009 illumination season. The artwork was displayed in the gardens at Gynn Square.
In year 2 of the programme four artists were commissioned to work with four seafront wards. The artists worked with community members and groups to develop lighting installations for the '4 Wards Light Night', which was held in January 2010. The artists were:
Mark Parry
www.markparrymedia.comJessica Lloyd-Jones
www.jessicalloyd-jones.comRuth Tyson-Jones
Rebecca Waite www.beckywaite.synthasite.com
The Boat House Project
Over the summer of 2009, we have invited sculptor John Merrill to work with the Boat House Project, based on Lytham Road. The projects’ aims were to help young men develop transferable skills in areas such as carpentry. John worked with the group based at the Boathouse to develop wood sculptures that were displayed at the boathouse and at Blott Studios.
www.johnmerrill.orgDance Residency
Through the months of July to September 2009, we have invited dance artist Rebecca Melvin to undertake a dance residency throughout the seafront wards of Blackpool. She worked with the Dreamscheme at St Peters and adult community groups in the area to look at unused spaces in the community as a theme for the work. The work created was filmed so that all participants had a lasting reminder of their project.
Bloomfield Talks
Bloomfield Talks, an artist led, community based, oral history project took place in Bloomfield Ward over an eighteen month period. The project involved a team of community volunteers who collected people's reminisences, photographs and archive information about the area. The information was shared through events, on a dedicated website and through the publication of the Bloomfield Talks hardback book. This publication was distributed free to every household in Bloomfield. If you wish to have a look at the book, you can also find one in all of the Blackpool libraries. The website
www.bloomfieldtalks.org is still active. On this website you can upload your own memories and picture to add to the archive. We have an artist working with schools and community groups over the coming year to develop the work of this website.
Artist in Residence
Kate Eggleston-Wirtz worked as Artist in Residence for the sea front wards for a six-month period, January-June 2009. She worked with members of the community to collect items that held memories of the area and also sourced found objects. Kate has produced an artwork , based on her findings, that will be stored at the Grundy Art Gallery. The piece will be used for educational purposes and loaned out with an education pack to schools and community groups. To access this contact
kerry.hunt@blackpool.gov.uk
‘Four Wards Light Night’ Celebrations - Friday 22
nd January 2010
Community groups and schools in Talbot, Claremont, Waterloo and Bloomfield worked with artists Becky Waite, Mark Parry, Jessica Lloyd Jones and Ruth Tyson Jones to created an exciting night of light based art installations and performances for the ‘Four Wards Light Night’ project.
The Regeneration Art Programme, was a two-year programme of innovative Arts Projects with Blackpool’s seafront communities, managed by Blackpool’s Arts Service and funded by Arts Council England through a Lottery Grant. Blackpool Illuminations Department has also supported the lighting project. Details of the events in each ward follows:-
Talbot ‘Jewels’ at St John’s School from 4pm
An amazing sculpture created by artist Becky Waite working with St Johns C of E Primary School pupils, Streetlife charity for homeless young people, New Directions mental health charity and Arts for Health group ‘Back on Track’. The colourful illuminated sculpture is made from recycled plastics and will be displayed at 59 Cookson Street.
The Worshipful Mayor of Blackpool Cllr Norman E Hardy and Deputy Mayor Cllr Valerie Haynes opened the event at St John’s C of E High School in the school hall. After the introduction staff, pupils and visitors took part in a lantern parade from the school via Caunce Street to the display at 59 Cookson Street to view the work.
Claremont ‘Street Beacons’ at Claremont Primary School from 4pm
Light Boxes designed by Claremont Primary School and Claremont Young Carers group were displayed in the school and at Claremont Community Centre. Artist Mark Parry worked with the young people involved in the project to, “say what they want to the world – in light”.
Cllr Ivan Taylor opened the event at Claremont School at 4.30pm. A lantern procession from the school to the community centre followed. The evening culminated with a laser show.
Waterloo Illumin8 at Solaris Centre from 6pm
Illuminated sculptures powered by a bicycle were showcased alongside artwork from Palatine School, Palatine Library Reading Group and the Boathouse Project. These groups worked with artist Jessica Lloyd Jones to create beautiful silhouettes through light experimentation.
After a welcome and introduction by Councillor Tony Williams, Cabinet Member for Culture and Communities, there was the opportunity to try some lighting experiments and view the artwork.
Bloomfield Glow with the Flow at
Bispham High School from 7.00pm -
‘Glow with the Flow’ was a dance performance in giant illuminated ‘pods’, choreographed by Ruth Tyson Jones and featuring dancers from the Boathouse Project, the Community Dance Activity Group, Revoe Dreamscheme and Bispham High School.