Streets Apart - The Old Courts

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STREETS APART

Created by a consortium of 9 Wigan and Leigh based organisations on a mission to bring world-class cultural activity to King Street, Streets Apart was a three-year project supported by £120,000 investment from national funder Historic England.

Over three years, this locally-rooted programme commissioned artists, local creative partners & community groups to co-create unique street art, podcasts outdoor performance and more, culminating in a celebratory festival for the whole community in 2023.

Image Courtesy of Archives: Wigan & Leigh

COMMISSIONED ARTISTS

7 artists were commissioned to work alongside local creative partners and community groups, to co-create unique multi-artform projects on King Street.

These commissions marked the beginning of Streets Apart, a cultural programme that unearthed and celebrated diverse histories and imagined a different future for King Street, through artist-and-community led projects.

Ciara Leeming
Rebecca May
Julie McKiernan & Corrie Shelley
Steve Fairclough
Andee Collard
Louise Fazackerley

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Streets Apart Festival

The Streets Apart project culminated in a 2 day festival based on King St in July 2023.

Transforming King Street for 2 days, Streets Apart Festival brought a jam-packed programme of free events including a parade through town, live music, DJ’s, catwalks, street performances and more.

63% of artists commissioned were from Wigan and the weekend saw footfall on King St and Standishgate hit 12,226!

On day 1 of the festival, our host puppet Frankie welcomed “Farrah the Fox” to Wigan and led a parade from Mesnes Park to King St. The parade element of the festival was created in association with Emergency Exit Arts, as part of Hi! Street Fest. The day continued with a packed programme of activity, including dance, poetry and musical performances.

On day 2, activities were more community focused and involved local societies hosting historical walks, performances from local talent and craft stalls.

A full overview of the festival can been seen here.

Streets Apart Festival was made possible with financial support from Historic England, Arts Council England, National Lottery Heritage Fund, Wigan Council, Granada Foundation and The Old Courts. It has been produced by the Street’s Apart Consortium: The Old Courts, Wigan Council, Healthy Arts, Stolen Thread Productions, Wigan Little Theatre, Wigan Local History and Heritage Society, Wigan Buildings Preservation Trust and Wigan Youth Zone.

"The cultural programme will unearth stories that bring King Street’s diverse histories to life; celebrating the rich assortment of past, present and future users of the high street. The programme, designed by the consortium, will include 7 commissions offered to artists based both nationally and within the Wigan and Leigh borough. We are excited to be working with The Creative Activators in the design and delivery of this programme. The Creative Activators are a group of 14-19 year olds shaking up the arts scene in Wigan, supported by Culture Unlocked, Wigan & Leigh’s Cultural Education Partnership."

Rosie Scudder, Streets Apart Producer

Our Consortium

Anne Woolley, Wigan Little Theatre

WLT is a voluntary organisation run by and for anyone interested in providing high quality, wide-ranging, traditional and innovative theatre, accessible to all. WLT has contributed to the cultural life in the borough for over 75 years and believes that everyone can benefit from involvement in the arts, whatever form they choose. We welcome volunteers with skills on stage, back stage, front of house, technical and administrative.

“The Streets Apart project is a platform to encourage participation in the arts which will lead to awareness about Wigan’s long history in entertainment. It will open up memories of the past and how our town has always valued ‘having a good night out’. It will also inspire us to revive and develop our view of how we continue to enjoy ourselves well into the next decades.”

Website: www.wiganlittletheatre.co.uk
Clare Kenyon, Wigan Local History and Heritage Society

WLHHS promote and help to maintain an interest in the rich heritage and history of Wigan, initiating and encouraging research and also raising awareness and campaigning publicly on issues where heritage is at risk. The society’s aim is to excite and engage people of all ages to discover and preserve Wigan heritage by bringing it to life creatively for the present and future generations of Wigan.

“We are pleased to be part of the King Street Project and look forward to the new awakening of this important historic area of the town.”

Website: https://www.wiganlocalhistory.org

Facebook: @wiganhistoryandheritage

Twitter: @wiganlocalhist1
Martin Green, Healthy Arts Theatre

Healthy Arts is a not-for-profit organisation of North West arts professionals who deliver workshops and events using heritage and the arts to improve peoples’ lives.

“It is a very exciting time for culture and the arts in Wigan and we are looking forward to bringing fresh creativity to King Street by sharing our skills within the cultural programme that is Streets Apart!”

Website: www.healthyarts.org.uk

Facebook @HealthyArts
Elise Williamson, Stolen Thread Productions CIC

Elise is a company Director of Stolen Thread located at The Way Theatre/Studio in Leigh Spinners Mill. As a theatre/film/events producer she aims to support her hometown in bringing high quality art through the medium of the performing arts. She is currently studying Creative Events Management at AUB but continues to run her business locally and works nationally on a range of projects from theatre productions to widely known music festivals.

“It’s an honour to be part of such a large project, supporting our community to revive the arts in the Wigan and Leigh Borough on such a huge scale. Truly amazing!”

Facebook: The Way Theatre/Studio

Facebook: Stolen Thread Productions CIC
Neil Linford, Wigan Building Preservation Trust

Wigan Building Preservation Trust is a charity formed in 2016 with an objective to record and preserve the historical, architectural and constructional heritage structures in and around Wigan. The Trust maintains close links with the Wigan World and the Local History and Heritage Websites.

“King St has been the barometer of the fortune of Wigan for almost two centuries, I am pleased have been given an opportunity to get involved in this project which may help to reinstate the Street as a ‘shop window’ for the town.“

www.wiganbuildings.co.uk
www.wiganworld.co.uk
www.wiganlocalhistory.org
Nikki Varley, Wigan Youth Zone

Nikki is Deputy Head at Wigan Youth Zone and also part of the local cultural education partnership. Nikki has worked in the arts sector as a musician, songwriter and facilitator for 10 years. She is passionate about all young people having access to the arts, to high quality facilities and opportunities and creating pathways into creative industries.

“I’m really excited about the streets apart project, I think it will be great for Wigan and another example of Wigan’s pioneering approach to culture and community”

Twitter: @NikkiWYZ @WiganYouthZone

Facebook: Wigan Youth Zone
Instagram:@WiganYZ

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