Art

Ours is a 100-year vision, manifesting through folk arts and rooted in nature; we’re transforming our L8 neighbourhood into a people-powered place, known around the world for being a playful, innovative, resilient & loving community where everybody thrives. Founded and lead by social artists, we passionately believe that art and culture are essential tools for positive social change.

Our folk practice takes place between a local wellspring and an oak elder that book-end our home of Windsor Street, up the hill from the river Mersey. In 2010 we planted apple trees that, like humans, if cared for, can live for a century; heralding our 100 Year Street Vision.   Our aim is for everyone to feel at home in our neighbourhood, now and for the next 100 years.

Our participatory folk arts programme supports people who are often excluded from the arts to become active creators and cultural contributors. Folk is how we make and find meaning and community together here, melding place-based roots and global identities. We collaborate with local and visiting artists to co-create work with residents, ensuring lived experience and local knowledge guide the process.  We employ creative practices that are suggested by and relevant to our community members and address multiple social and cultural perspectives including: music, craft, song, ritual, drawing, embroidery, poetry, procession, photography and dance.

At the heart of our vision is socially-engaged, nature-based creativity, folk, art & design. Our community folk practice is cyclical, chiming with the L8-fold year; eight ritual thresholds connected to nature; 4 solar festivals (seasonal solstices and equinoxes) & 4 fire festivals (Samhain, Imbolc, Beltane & Lammas).

Come and join in our seasonal programme of abundant participation, working with artists, gardeners, architects and cooks to better understand, nurture, sustain and celebrate our communities, our lives and our planet.

SEE BELOW TO EXPLORE OUR CREATIVE JOURNEYS SO FAR.

Our Funders & Partners