South Whitehaven Artist Residency Programme
The arts development department of Copeland Borough Council has a history of partnership work with The National Trust.
When the trust began developing community consultation with the people of South Whitehaven it was decided that the arts could be utilised to engage the local population with debates and ideas about the development of the coastal strip.
A programme of participatory arts was developed to work with a broad range of people on the Kells, Woodhouse and Greenbank estates over two years. The work would involve schools, youth clubs and community groups in a spectrum of arts practice that explored ideas about space and place, in particular the coastal strip and the ex-industrial sites.
The programme included work in sculpture, printing, painting, music, drama, kite making, writing and photography. The programme created and supported large-scale community events as well as producing sustained and affiliated community art groups.
The South Whitehaven Artist Residency Programme is supported by Cleaner, Safer, Greener Communities fund and Arts Council England North West.
Thanks go to Joanne Walker CGSC and David Gaffney ACENW for their support.
