During the second half of 2023 we were super busy working with St Helens Borough Council on a series of projects to support their Borough of Culture year.
Initially we worked with the Library & Archives Services as Creative Producers on their Creative Underground project, funded by #NationalLotteryHeritageFund. The project supported nine fantastic community groups to explore their heritage and to create a showcase event as part of Heritage Open Days 2023. It was an absolute joy to work with such a diverse range of hugely passionate and ambitious local groups including Friends of St Helens Cemetery, Sankey Canal Restoration Society, Sahir House, UC Crew, The Haydock Band, and North West Miners’ Heritage Association.
One of our personal favourites was a project in which Buzz Hub members collaborated with local artists Rebecca Ainsworth, Claire Weetman and David Bixter to co-create artworks inspired by the remarkable life and achievements of St Helens born George Groves resulting in this beautiful film.
We particularly enjoyed working with Bidston Observatory Artistic Research Centre (BOARC) and artist Grace Collins who, following a short residency at BOARC, produced a short film called ‘I am waiting for the sun’. Responding to the Sunshine Recorder housed within BOARC’s Heritage Education Centre Space (HECS) archive, the film explores themes of failure and longing using footage filmed while the Sunshine Recorder could not be used due to poor weather conditions.
Alongside the community programme, FS Creative were also commissioned as Creative Producers by the Arts in Libraries Team (Jun 23 – Jan 24) to support a number of arts and heritage projects to celebrate St Helens Borough of Culture through an Open Grant award. We worked with and supported 13 artists, voluntary groups and arts organisations to realise a fantastic selection of projects including exhibitions, workshops, showcases, books and a film. A particular highlight was working with artist Mark Peachey who produced ‘A Labour of Love’ an exhibition which celebrated EC Greenall bakery in St Helens. Owned by Colin Greenall, EC Greenall was a stalwart of the landscape of Duke Street for over 60 years. When Colin retired in November 22, Mark thought it would be a fitting tribute to document the shop both in photographs and audio interviews.
FS Creative 