Press Release
Project eARTh gets 5 years more funding!
High Peak Community Arts are delighted to announce they they have been awarded a 5 year grant of £365,255 from the Reaching Communities Fund of the Big Lottery to continue with their highly successful Project eARTh. The grant also includes £15,000 of a ‘Building Capabilities’ grant for the first year, for the organisation as a whole to review, develop and undertake any training needed to go forward .
Project eARTh (environmental arts and health) had a wonderful first 5 years with a whole host of participatory arts projects for people experiencing mental distress, with other physical impairments or long term conditions. In Project eARTh people get the chance to get out, meet other people, make friends, have fun, be creative, and work together to make art works for the community.
With participants from all over the High Peak, the project has created 33 artworks, many of which can be seen and enjoyed across the borough – including a ceramic human sundial in High Lee Park, New Mills, an aluminium archway in Granby Park Road, Fairfield, a Mosaic Trail in Gamesley Woodlands, felted wall hangings in Fairfield Community Centre and the Moorland Centre Edale, outdoor pizza ovens in Glossop and the Goyt Valley, a living willow arbour in Glossop, a living willow den and tunnel for Harpur Hill Children’s Centre, Ceramics at Dinting Railway Station, wooden sculptures at Poole’s cavern, a woven tapestry at Spring Bank Arts, a hand- made paper light for Blythe House Hospice, audio posts on the Sett Valley Trail and more! As well as our core participants, some projects have involved partnerships with community organisations and schools.
‘We look forward to starting a whole range of exciting new projects now’, said Alison Bowry, who co-ordinates the project. ‘And we welcome ideas for artworks – or sites to place them. If there is somewhere near you that you feel would welcome some artwork – indoors or outdoors – please get in touch. And if you feel your wellbeing would benefit from joining in, please get in touch too.’ The new project starts in mid- June, with groups in New Mills and Fairfield, and free transport for those that need it, including from Glossop for the New Mills group. Each session is led by a professional artist, with support from mental health workers, and volunteers. Attendance is free of charge.
Project eARTh is a partnership between High Peak Community Arts. High Peak Community Mental health Team, High Peak Mental Health Project and High Peak CVS.
