Limehurst Village wins £50,000 investment from Arts Council England
Limehurst Village and the wider Hollinwood area in Oldham has received backing from Arts Council England with a £50,000 investment.
The money is to support a ground-breaking local project that helps improve resident engagement by embedding arts and culture into everyday life.
The Limehurst Arts Society was established by Regenda Homes in partnership with Oldham Council Arts and Heritage Service in 2016 and is based on a co-operative model in which members build up shares and rewards by participating in projects, cultural events and workshops.
Bill Lovat, Regional Director at Regenda Homes, said: “At Regenda we’ve been committed for years to supporting and investing in Regeneration through Community Arts, because we know what a fantastic impact it has for people of all ages and the places where they live. We all want to see long term improvements to life chances, wider aspirations and increased access to opportunities: this funding will help the community to achieve those ambitions”.
Over 2,000 participants have been involved with the Limehurst Arts Society since its inception and those numbers are set to rise thanks to this new funding. The injection of £50,000 will support a two-year programme of high-quality arts activity in the community where everyone can get involved.
Cllr Martin Judd, Deputy Cabinet Member Economy & Enterprise, Oldham Council, said: “Oldham is a town with a brilliant cultural heritage and real ambition to create opportunities for many more people to experience high quality arts activities. Limehurst Arts is an exciting next step for a truly innovative community arts programme in Hollinwood. It represents a successful and refreshing partnership approach that we’re committed to and aim to build on in the years ahead.”
The programme will include a new participatory theatre commission, temporary public art around the Hollinwood area, master class workshops in photography and print and exciting trips to the Liverpool Biennial and Oldham Coliseum.
There will also be the opportunity to participate in high profile local and regional events including the annual Reindeer Parade, Spare Parts Festival and Illuminate Light Night.
The Arts Council National Lottery Project Grants were set up to achieve Art Council England’s mission of: ‘Great art and culture for everyone’. The Limehurst Arts Society is just one of many not-for-profit projects supported by this funding to create new work and sustain quality, helping new audiences across England to engage with arts and culture.
Stacey, a member of the Limehurst Arts Society, said: “Being part of the Limehurst Arts Society has helped me with my mental health because the times I have felt really low I have gone to the sessions to get out of the house and to learn something new. I have really enjoyed growing as a person, building my confidence and learning new skills”.
The new programme from the Limehurst Arts Society will be launched for local residents in early March 2020.
Everyone will be able to sign up for membership and join in the new exciting opportunities over the next two years.
For more information about the Limehurst Arts Society contact Beckie at the Thriving Hollinwood Hub -
Call: 0151 703 3513
Email: Thrivinghollinwood@regenda.org.uk
Connect: www.facebook.com/thrivinghollinwood19