An initiative to regenerate an area of Babergh with an innovative arts project takes another step forward later this month with a series of community-based workshops.
Residents, past and present, are being encouraged to take part and help develop the series of pathways, lighting and artworks that will enhance an area of open space between Hartest, Minsmere, Rede and Raydon Way on the Anglia Estate in Great Cornard.
The Passing Comment project, which is part of Babergh District Council’s Improvement programme for the area, has been successful in securing more than £30,000 of funding from Arts Council England, East.
The improvement programme at Anglia Estate began five years ago and Babergh received a Beacon Award for the Neighbourhood renewal work carried out.
Suffolk-based artist Les Bicknell has been working closely with local residents and groups to develop ideas and designs for the area. He has also been listening to residents’ concerns and interests in order to incorporate them into the design proposal for the space.
The proposal has detailed a series of pathways, lighting and artworks that will enable people to walk across the space freely and create a safer atmosphere.
Art, such as text or images, will be cut into stone at foot level and placed along the pathways and will be a testimony to the people from the estate and the wider community.
The inspiration for the artworks will come from local residents and school children through a variety of workshops and activities. Some of the ideas of what will go into the stones so far include:
- People’s personal histories – for instance experiences of first moving to the area from London
- Stories about people’s lives in the area
- Thoughts that residents have about the past, present and future
- Young people will be asked, ‘what is important’ to them through activities at all the Great Cornard schools
Mr Bicknell said: “The design and artworks are like a visible time capsule - depicting stories and moments in time of the people in this particular area of Great Cornard.
“I will be engaging with local schools and will also be holding open days where I would like to talk to current and former residents of the estate.
“The design and artworks are all a result of the resident’s ideas and this is what will make this project special for the area - knowing that local people have made it what it is.”
The first of a series of workshops is being held in Clover Court, Minsmere Way, Great Cornard, on Saturday, April 22 and Saturday, April 29 from 10am until 3pm on both days.
Susie Tyrrell, Babergh District Council’s Arts and Community Development Officer, said: “This is an important project for the estate which celebrates the people and the area of Great Cornard.
“It will enhance and join together a piece of land which would otherwise have been left with no real function. The key to this project’s success has been the involvement of the residents and the community.”
For further information on the workshops – or how to get involved – please call Susie Tyrrell on (01473) 826615 or email: susie.tyrrell@babergh.gov.uk.
More information on the Passing Comment Project.
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