What’s Creative Egremont trying to do?

Creative Egremont began in 2005 when the Egremont & Area Regeneration Partnership approached Grizedale Arts (an innovative contemporary arts agency based near Coniston) to rethink how the arts could directly improve the life of Egremont and its surrounding areas. Grizedale then put together a team and a programme of actvity spanning a year from March 2006 until March 2007. The work we have done is currently drawing to a close with some of our biggest projects which address sites like Egremont Castle.
For other examples take a look at the ‘Projects’ link on the left of the page.

GA’s Deputy Director Alistair Hudson, says

“It was such an exciting chance to work in a new part of the county, and to build on the resourcefulness and energy of Egremont. Instead of treading the familiar path of yet another consultancy, we proposed a 12 month programme of on-the-ground activity building on our recent work in socially-engaged public and community arts projects like our revival of the Coniston Water Festival, and ’Road Show‘ a circus-like exhibition which toured urban and rural venues in 2003.”

Creative Egremont is working closely with the many other local regeneration initiatives, but crucially, it moves away from the established idea of commissioning permanent public works of art to enhance a town’s appearance, seeking instead to establish a consistent range of activity which will enhance the overall culture and life of the town.

Alistair continues,

“When the project ends we want to have set up a framework locally for a range of activities, which can be built upon by the community on a sustainable and appropriate scale ad infinitum. For example, we’re looking at solutions for ‘teching up’ the main street with broadband Internet and power so that events and performances can be programmed simply.”

Creative Egremont is also keen to include the local business community in its work.

“There’s an established close link between business success, entrepreneurship and creativity”, adds Alistair. “In a small town like Egremont it’s vital that our projects make it possible for people young and old to benefit from the arts in different ways.  If our projects gets people thinking differently - creatively, ambitiously - this will result in long-term economic benefits as they start businesses, learn new skills and forge new networks.”