A Manchester festival has proven to be the perfect platform for ‘On Our Door Step’ a disability arts project involving groups from across the borough to showcase their artistic talents.

‘Garden of Delights’, a fun-based festival combining street art and green activism, took place this weekend at Platt Fields, Manchester and proved really popular with the public: 50,000 people attended over three days.

The ‘On Our Door Step’ project was organised by Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust (WLCT) with the support of Wigan and Leigh Disability Forum and Action Factory Community Arts.  Eight community groups worked together to produce an impressive textured tent-like installation incorporating towers, doors and windows.  Each group produced their own section of the installation, which also invigorates the five senses through the use of different sights, sounds and smells.

Vicky Sellers, WLCT’s Arts Development Officer (Projects) said, “Garden Of Delights has been a fantastic event for these groups to showcase their work and has put Wigan Borough firmly on the map for developing inclusive arts''. “This project is a starting point to raise the profile of disability groups throughout the borough.  It is great that these groups collaboratively worked together and plan to work together in the future on collaborative projects and events on a strategic level,” continued Vicky. “It is hoped that we will now go on to develop a borough wide disability arts festival of our own.”

The groups who participated in the project include: Tanfield School (Hindley); Wigan and Leigh Scope; Shooting Stars (Orrell); Holiday Club; ACE; Go Getters; Wigan and Leigh Disability Forum and The Gap (Bolton).

‘On Our Door Step’ will continue to showcase its inspirational installation at public events throughout Wigan and Leigh over the coming months:

• July 3^rd: Arts For All, Haigh Country Park
• August 7^th: WOW Festival, Mesnes Park
• August 21^st: Bolton Mela, Queens Park, Bolton
• September 10^th: Hag Fold Festival, Atherton

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NOTES TO EDITORS:
For further information on this News Release please contact Chris Dunbar, PR Consultant, WLCT on 01942 776719 or at c.dunbar@wlct.org.

For further information about arts projects in Wigan Borough please contact Vicky Sellers, WLCT’s Arts Development Officer (Projects) at v.sellers@wlct.org