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The Arts Factor!
Wigan and Leigh’s foremost artistic
talents and enthusiastic community groups have been showcasing their
work at an event entitled ‘The Arts Factor’.
The event, organised by Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust, held on
Saturday 1st October at St Joseph’s Hall, Leigh was not merely a
collection of performances and exhibitions, but more an active
celebration of the positive effect art has on the community.
The day incorporated a wide range of artistic genres ranging from dance
to film to community drama and visual arts. Various groups and
individuals were present at the celebration including:
• DANCE: Broomfield Academy Junior Group and the Thistle Society.
• DRAMA: ‘Down Memory Lane’ by the Over 50’s Forum and Hindley High; ‘A
Higher View’ intergenerational project at Higher Fold and ‘I Want To
Fly’ by Wigan Pier Theatre Company from Words ’05
• FILM: ‘Do you see what we are saying?’ a Youth Arts Challenge Project;
‘Why skate? Why not?’ a Youth Development Film and ‘Haigh Film Fest’ by
Wigan Music Collective.
• MUSIC: Atomic Hound Dog.
• VISUAL ARTS: contributions by the Turnpike Gallery, Wigan Borough
Artists Network, and OK Studios.
“Art has a powerful role to play in society and today has been proof of
the positive effect that art has on both community groups and
individuals alike,” said Chris Wyatt, Community Regeneration Manager for
the Trust. “As we work towards publishing and implementing the borough’s
new arts strategy it was important that today’s event portrayed the
vibrancy and diversity of the arts scene locally.”
Arts activity in the Wigan Borough has increasingly grown over the past
few years. In 2004/05 over 70,000 people participated or experienced
arts based events supported by the Trust such as Arts for All, the WOW
Festival, Hot On The Streets, the Hagfold Community Festival and the
Haigh Festival. The figure also includes the increase in the number of
community activities and projects such as the ones present at The Arts
Factor.
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Other surprising statistics for 2004/05 include:
• Over 10,000 people visited the Turnpike Gallery in Leigh.
• 4,000 performances took place.
• 2,000 new participants experienced arts based workshops.
• 5 new youth theatres were formed.
• 3,200 young people took part in ‘new issue’ based projects.
The Trust’s Arts and Festivals team in consultation with Wigan Council
and various community arts groups are in the process of creating a
strategy for the borough that will cover the 2006-2012 period. The aim
of the strategy is to support the development of arts activity across
the borough with a view to improving the quality of life of people in
the borough through increased participation and cultural expression.
“We want to maintain the work that took place in 2004/05 and improve the
borough’s reputation as an area of cultural and artistic significance,”
continued Chris. “It is clear from the success of The Arts Factor that
there is a real thirst for participation in the arts in the area. What
made this event so special was that it proved that art crosses the
boundaries of race, age and gender.”
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NOTES TO EDITORS: For further information on this News Release please
contact Chris Dunbar, Public Relations Officer, Wigan Leisure and Culture
Trust on 01942 486937 or at c.dunbar@wlct.org.
Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust: Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust is a
charitable trust working on behalf of Wigan Council to manage and
support Leisure and Cultural facilities, initiatives and events for
300,000 residents across the Wigan Borough.
Getting Wigan Active: Getting Wigan Active is WLCT’s vision to ensure
that people across the Wigan Borough have the opportunity to become more
physically, mentally and creatively active. It also aims to increase
community activity and to encourage good citizenship.
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