Category Archives: participatory arts

Art Projects in 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Working on some ‘scraper board’ art Dec 2019

young people painting wall art

young people working on a graffiti wall art piece

in communal dining area

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Young people spray painting their design on to the wall

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Poem being written in to the art work above

Onward and Upward continued

We are thrilled to announce that BCH are funding Last Legs for a further 24 creative sessions ‘Onwards and Outwards’ . We would like to thank BCH and the grant award committee for once again supporting members of our community who are often excluded from engaging in creative activities, due to lack of funds or personal circumstance.

All our participants leave workshop sessions with art works for their rooms, new homes, or friends and family. The experience of creating an art work from scratch often inspires individuals to continue with their new found skills once they move to a new home.

Tenants Project Fund update

Below are art works by more community members on the Onward and Upward project

Tangerine Tower

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Space painting by community member on project Onward and Upwards

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

‘Onward and Upwards’

Canvas below spray painted by Gail.

Liverpool stencil on canvas

Gails' Liverpool canvas
made by Gail spray painted canvas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are also delighted that

Blackpool Coastal Housing

 

are continuing to fund our creative activities and art project ‘Onward and Upwards’ .

Art work created by young people in communal dining area

 

 

 

 

Art work below created during the project

 

 

 

 

 

Art works by young people

 

 

 

 

 

‘Worlds’ spray painted triptych on recycled cardboard

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are now continuing with a similar project ‘Onward and Outwards’.

 

 

 

 

 

‘I’m framing this one for the bathroom’

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

‘I’ve tried saying I don’t do art, but the evidence is here’

‘I’m really pleased, I cant even do stick drawings’

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

below – spray painted jigsaw

 

 

 

 

 

 

‘This is something to really look forward too, its so boring looking at 4 walls, when your in your room with nothing to do, this is something really positive’.

 

 

 

 

 

Below the Art work ‘Onward and Upwards’ now installed at the hostel in main staircase: created last year over a number of sessions with local residents.

‘That art work is amazing, it’s the first thing I saw when I arrived here, it’s great I’m really impressed.’

 

 

 

 

 

 

‘I’m buzzing .. this is what I should be doing, it could help sort myself out and stay focused’

I’m really in to art….I used to do arty stuff with the kids when I worked as a nursery assistant .. it was my favourite thing to do with them’.

 

 

 

 

 

                                                ‘…just passing through’ 

St Annes-On-Sea art group

We recently worked with an arts for health group in St Annes.

community art outside St Annes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stencils and spray paint in St Annes. Arts for Health group

Creative Principle Harris Art Event November 2nd 2019

On November 2nd 2019, Boz was selling artworks made using recycled materials @ The Harris Preston Lancashire.

hand made bird recycled materials

The fair showcased local artists who specialise in using recycled materials in their work.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

https://www.facebook.com/The-creative-principle-an-artists-collective-276737829924656/

February 2019 

Art work poem at Grange Park and ‘Freedom Clock’

Project working with Horizon ‘Art of Recovery’ group and Grange Park residents 2018-2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This year we have presented ‘The Grange’ Blackpool with two art works created in collaboration with the Grange Park community and members of the ‘Art of Recovery’  group. The art works include photos of over 70 individuals from the Grange Park area and from the Art of Recovery groups . Community members from Grange Park and people from the recovery community allowed us to take photographs to add to the final piece. We also received a number of super photographic images for inclusion, taken by Donna Hannigan. The ‘Freedom Clock’ art work is now complete and up on the wall, next to the poem art work.

 

 

 

 

 

People trying to find themselves on the clock

Freedom Clock Poem by art group member

‘Life is like one big clock Keep on thinking happy thoughts Tick tock: tick tock’.

 

 

 

 

 

Our last  art work  made in to a postcard that went out to Grange Park residents

 

 

 

 

 

 

https://www.facebook.com/At-the-grange-Blackpool-1021617421334189

Marking the Martyrs in 2018

 

 

 

 

 

A big thank you to Corrine Streetly, director of award winning Blott  Studio  https://en-gb.facebook.com/blottstudio/

for including us in this beautiful catalogue commemorating the ‘Marking the Martyrs’ parade last year. We participated in the celebration of ‘Votes for Women’ along with our friends the Revoe-lution choir.

https://www.facebook.com/markingthemartyrs/

 

Going forward further in to 2019 we continue to work with Horizon Blackpool, Blackpool Gorton St , the Revoe and Central community,  Urban Arts Studio St Annes, and the Grange – Grange Park community.

 

Revoe mosaic project 2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

UPDATE

We have just restated the mosaic after a substantial break.

Working with the Revoe community we hope to have this finished and mounted to a wall in Revoe by the end of this year 2021

https://lastlegsart.com/category/community-arts-blackpool/

Previously

After collecting tiles from Kass at ‘Al Murad’ Blackpool and spotting a small hoard ready for the skip at another shop, we had a ‘trial run’ of using the pieces that Mr Dee spent 3 days cutting up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Hand Made Un’s Art Club have now started the work after  securing a small pot of funding for materials earlier this year, thanks to Pippa Martin. We are applying for further funding to work with more of the community throughout 2018 to produce some smaller mosaics to be installed outdoors in the Revoe area.

The Blackpool Gazette came this week to take photographs for a feature on the project and the club. Thank you to Dan and Julia from the Gazette.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lee’s drawing up on the backer board ready to add tiles.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Keep watching the blog for updates.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Margaret tried out a windmill design, while Andy ‘supervised’.

Anita tried out a house design.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Barbara worked on her King Edward Picture House  design. The location of the finished mosaic will be on the side the George pub that is also included in the mosaic.

 

Projects in 2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

work delivered to Grange Park today 4th January 2019

Our last artwork for 2018 completed in December 2018 for ‘The Grange’ working in collaboration with the local community  and the art of recovery community art group . on behalf of Horizon Blackpool.

Thank you to everyone who participated and a Happy New Year.

We are currently working with people in Blackpool as part of our Art Buddies Project.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The project aims to support people who may be socially isolated to get involved creatively in their communities. We take creative activities to people who may not have the opportunity to get involved with the arts due to personal circumstance or ill health. The project is funded by BCH.

 

 

In November we began work with the art group at the Grange, Grange Park to produce a bespoke artwork that reflects the memories and images of people of Grange Park. We are working with the group for 6 weeks until 14th December.

We were at Highfield Park today creating art works for the park with the community and Friends of Highfield Park volunteers.

https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/news/mini-graffiti-artists-get-their-aprons-1001235

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Events

 

On Saturday 18th August at the Revoe Fun Day we are delivered creative activities to young people and families from the Central area of Blackpool.

https://www.facebook.com/events/228307541257741/

 

 

 

 

 

 

We have been spray painting these portraits on the Recovery Tram: working with Blackpool Horizon Art Club to produce stencil based art work using photographs of participants.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We also worked with the group to produce spray paint designs on the Horizon tram ready for the pride walk 12th June 2018.

 

 

 

 

 

In May we volunteered at the stone carving workshops in St Annes, organised by St Annes in Bloom.

 

 

 

 

Mr Dee working with one young participant to make his mark on the stone

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anthony Lysycia the stone carver at work on one of the stone pieces.

https://www.facebook.com/anthony.lysycia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

St Annes in Bloom making their marks on the stone

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

https://www.facebook.com/stannesinbloom/

With the community in Revoe and the Art Club Hand Made Un’s we  created two new poster for the front of the King Edward Cinema. Project commissioned by Blackpools’ Healthy Living and Creative Design Officer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revoe Community Choir participated in the ‘Marking the Martyrs’ parade on Saturday 2nd June.

Banner made with ‘Hand Made Un’s’ art club and Boz Phillips.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supporting Blackpools’ longest established artists group: Blott Artist Studio.

http://www.blott.co.uk/

Sashes produced by Boz Phillips for Revoe Community Choir

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

‘Marking The Martyrs’ exhibition celebrates 100 years of  Womens’ Right to Vote

 

 

 

 

 

Hand Made Un’s creating letters for the banner

https://www.facebook.com/groups/126193264703510/

We’re in the local

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With the Hand Made Un’s and community members in the Central and Revoe area we are creating a community mosaic. The mosaic will be installed on the empty spaces along the George Hotel  on Central Drive  visible to the wider community.

Work started in May after 2 days of sorting and cutting tiles

We  received a very generous donation of tiles from Al-Murad Tiles Blackpool branch. Thanks to artist Kass –

https://www.facebook.com/African-Woodstock-425125124513955/

for sourcing these end of line tiles for our mosaic.

Hand Made Un’s art works on plates dishes, cups and saucers, will  be for sale on 18th August at Revoe Fun Day.

 

 

 

 

 

items such as these beautiful Blackpool themed plates are now available prices start at £3: half the money will go to the community center the other half to the lifeboats.

On Saturday August 18th

We will be running a workshop for children customising bandannas at the Fun Day.

We are currently working with Shabby2Chic and the wonderful Sandra, in Knott End. An exiting opportunity to be involved with the Wise Owls project in a fantastic new venue for exhibiting and selling began this week. We will be in Knott End at the studio every Monday.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

https://www.facebook.com/shabby2chiccic/

In January we will be continued with the successful ‘Art Buddies’ in a new Blackpool location – Marton . The first leaflets have now been distributed to people in sheltered housing in Marton. The project is funded by Blackpool Coastal Housing.

In February we  exhibited a selection of our work at Urban Arts Studio St Annes.

https://www.facebook.com/urbanartsstudio/

 

 

 

 

 

Wishing everyone a Creative  2018.

 

Horizon Recovery Freedom Tram project September 2017

The Horizon Recovery Freedom Tram  Project.

 

In August Boz Phillips and Lee Fitzgerald worked with people accessing the services of Horizon Blackpool to curate a series of their art works and poetry to be included on the tram.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The art work produced by individuals was on display as a series of vinyls designed by Boz and Lee using all art works by ‘Art of Recovery’ members on the side of Blackpool Heritage 641 Centenary tram.

 

M   ‘So for me this project has come at a vital time in my recovery … I got into art a few months ago having having been introduced to it’s therapeutic values in the psychiatric ward around 7 months ago …
The warm welcome has been great and for me it’s all about the creative wonderful people I have met and will continually meet in the Freedom Building. A special thanks to Carole, The massive amount of encouragement from Boz and Lee (thank you Lee for all our chats you have really inspired me). Thank you Faron for a few days painting I would definitely work for you again.
I would definitely be interested in any future art projects’
E   ‘It’s great how much this has helped you guys.
Boz and Lee should certainly work helping in recovery. I think they’re great people. You feel no judgement from them, only kindness and encouragement. Very opening and welcoming people. ‘
Extract from Horizon Press release.

“As well as displaying artwork created as part of the recovery journey, the tram site will also act as an information point for people looking to access help with their addiction issues. We want to spread the word that recovery is possible for the majority of people who seek help.”

‘The project was officially launched on 8th September as part of the FAVOR UK Recovery Walk celebrations which will be taking place in Blackpool over the weekend. A national recovery conference is planned for Friday the 8th September and the annual FAVOR UK Recovery Walk will take place on Saturday 9th September; the largest gathering of people in recovery in Europe with an estimated 5000 people expected to join in the celebrations in Blackpool town centre.’

 The static tram with the art  could be viewed at Blackpool, South Promenade, in front of the Sandcastle. The tram with art works has now moved back to Fleetwood for storage as of 26th June 2019.
Rob 2019

‘Yeah it,s going but…………………………….what that means to me. I first saw it when Carole  showed it to me. As an addict, that was an amazing thing to see. I’ve been down there when I have felt a bit low. I’ve not told anyone but Feb/Mar/Apr time, on a Sunday, I’d cycle down there. I was struggling. I cycled back totally under control. I got pics, I will never forget that tram.’

The  ‘Art Of Recovery’ group, set up by the project participants still runs  on a Wednesdays evenings and Saturdays at the Freedom Building

If you require any further information about the project or the services mentioned above please contact them directly.

https://www.facebook.com/HorizonBlackpool/

http://www.druglinelancs.co.uk/#

Projects in 2016

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On 6th August Ibbison Community Center re opened after the refurbishment work was completed. The glass chandelier is up as of today. The reaction so far has been fantastic. Thank you to Colette Halstead who took time out today to hook all the glass on to the bespoke frame after working with us to create this beautiful masterpiece.

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In November we completed a poster project for a Blackpool Heritage project. The posters will be displayed on the front of The King Edward picture House on Central Drive in December 2016. We worked with the community and the Hand Made Un’s Art Club participants to create two distinctive ‘Movie’  posters which make references to local history and local places.

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Margaret (pictured here talking about her work) has been instrumental in designing one of the posters for the ‘King Eddie’.

At the present we are not able to put up images of the work until the posters are in-situ.

On September the 2nd we began our ‘Wise Owls’ workshops with Shabby2Chic

Shabby2Chic CIC

https://www.facebook.com/shabby2chiccic/

Art Club members from ‘Hand Made Un’s’ undertook this course with  Sandra Johnson from S2C. All participants received a certificate at the end of the course.

wise owl painting for web

 

 

 

 

 

https://www.facebook.com/revoecommunity/

On August 20th we were involved with the Revoe Fun Day

Meanwhile

Mr Dee has been busy painting for the Back West Art Trail in St Annes. The results have gained many admirers and we hope to continue this work in support of St Annes and the community.

https://www.facebook.com/stannesbackwestartstrail/?fref=ts

photo (7)

 

 

 

 

 

This is the most recent of the graffiti paintings done by Mr Dee.

As we usually work with community members  this was an opportunity for Mr Dee to create art works using his own designs.

Boz Phillips has recently participated in the Sugar and Spite Exhibition at Blott Art Studios to coincide with the recent Rebellion Punk Festival.

https://www.facebook.com/events/611949638973189/

Blott Art Studio exhibits the best of local artists work and is currently recruting volunteers to participate in gallery invigilation and activities.

https://www.facebook.com/blottstudio

In May we worked with

Blackpool Grand Theater

to deliver  workshops to –

Bugs 2 Butterflies 

 Head start 

 Aiming higher 

Streetlife 

Aspired Futures

https://lastlegsart.com/2016/05/03/workshops-with-grand-theatre-blackpool-and-local-organisations-for-breakin-convention-show-2016/

Breakin’ Convention 2016

http://www.breakinconvention.com/events/festival/breakin-convention-2016-blackpool

The ‘Graffiti Grannies’  created a graffiti art work with Mr Dee for  ‘Breakin’ Convention’ in Blackpool this year 2016 at Matcham Court on May 16th 

Photos from Monday 16th May

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Photos from the ‘Graffiti Battle’ in Palatine Road Car Park

Intergenerational ‘Graffiti Battle’ 2014

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https://lastlegsart.com/2014/08/18/graffiti-battle-at-palatine-road-car-park-august-17th-2014/

Hand Made Un’s Art Club

doing glass 4

 

 

 

 

 

 

We have set up a Facebook Page for our ‘Hand Made Un’s’ community art club. Information about past, present and future work can be found here

and includes work we did to create the glass chandelier with  glass artists Colette Halstead and local residents

is ready to be mounted from the ceiling in when the center is completely  refurbished Ibbison Community Center. The workshop was funded by LeftCoast as an extension to our local artists workshops in 2015/2016.

 

Boz and Mr Dee had some of their work on exhibition and for sale recently  at Urban Arts Studio St Annes

http://www.urbanartsstudio.com/

This is an exiting new art space where we hope to be doing more work very soon. There are also opportunities for us to work with and support local businesses while working with the community.

and Boz exhibited her work at  Blott Art Studio as part of the ‘Be The Banana Skin’ feminist art exhibition in May 2016

We are also currently working  with

Arts Partnership Fylde to find ways to support and enhance the arts creativity and community engagement throughout Fylde.

https://artspartnershipfylde.wordpress.com/

Bookmaking ongoing

Julia Swarbrick will continue our ongoing working partnership with local residents following her successful book making workshop in January. The project will involve  working with local historian Shirley McCarten to make a handmade book. Julia will also  work with local residents who remember Blackpool Central  Train Station, and the Wakes Weeks to record historical events of the times gone by. Julia currently works with Blackburn Museum. The ‘Wakes Weeks’ project is part of her ongoing work.

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Photo from January’s workshop. Funded by LeftCoast.

The book making extended our range of local artists workshops run for 6 months, once a month on Tuesdays Memory Lane Cafe.

https://juliaswarbrick.wordpress.com/

 

One year since the opening and a ‘Live Paint’ with Mr Dee for Breakin’  Convention in May 2016 to celebrate !

poster for memory cafe colour second draft for email

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The residents ‘Revoe-lution’ community choir recently performed at the King Edward on Central Drive and two local poets Walentina Ivanovna and Kate Eggleston-Wirtz joined us for the occasion – The Shakespeare Festival week

http://www.ccasblackpool.co.uk/revoe-lution-community-choir.html

 

The residents Association recently won an award for all their hard work for the community. We were very happy to accept the invitation to the event and the award  presentation.

http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/news/community/community-news/glittering-awards-dinner-as-popular-as-ever-1-7774285

Last Legs is committed to working in partnership with local artists, community groups, organisations and businesses to promote and support health and creativity for people of all ages.

Information on all our previous activities are available on these wordpress blog pages

 

 

 

 

Workshops with Grand Theatre Blackpool and local organisations for Breakin’ Convention Show 2016

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Graffiti hats in the Teepee at Blackpool St Johns Square May 20th and 21st in the lead up to the fantastic Breakin’ Convention Show at Grand Theatre.

This May we worked with Grand Theatre to publicise and support the  ‘Breakin’ Convention’ show  at Grand Theatre Blackpool

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http://breakinconvention.com/events/festival/breakin-convention-2016-blackpool

We worked with Revoes notorious ‘Graffiti Grannies’ on the 16th May at Matcham Court Grand Theater Blackpool.

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graffiti pointing

 

 

 

 

 

 

photo 2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Selected photos from the 5 workshops can be found below.

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Graffiti sign workshop at Ibbison Community Center

and a selection of photos from workshops with Aiming Higher,

Aspired Futures, Streetlife and Headstart Blackpool

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Graffiti Art and Dance Workshop at the Oracle Blackpool Day 2

backdrop design for dance finished

Finished art work to include in dance production

Another Fantastic day with a brilliant group of young people from Blackpool Young Carers.

Working with

House of Wingz Blackpool

and Grand Theater Blackpool for the forthcoming ‘Zoonation’ production

graffiti painting


Working on the art

backdrop design for dance

All ages get involved in the work

backdrop design for dance

Great day had by all.

Graffiti and Dance Workshop Blackpool Oracle February 2016

Photo (1)

 

 

Finished art work used for the backdrop for dance performance with young people

Working with Samantha Bell (Wingz Theatre Works)

Blackpool Grand Theater

With young people from UR Potential

Getting ready for https://www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk/event/into-the-hoods-remixed/

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Getting stuck in to the painting

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The dance performance with backdrop completed at the end of the days workshops

Friday Art Club at Ibbison Community Center collage shapes from 3D objects

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Today I took  along a number of objects for people to use as ideas for shapes to cut out to then use in a new collage, instead of choosing random pictures and papers. These were some of the items.

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Some people chose one item to cut multiples. Some people chose more than one item and then composed collages with the cut out shapes.

balloons

Some cut out shapes took on new lives


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Any of these pictures here would look amazing framed. What do you think?

So many people say they ‘can’t’ draw or ‘do art’. Using colours and shapes makes us see everyday objects in  different ways.

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Henri Matisse was famous for his cut out art

http://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-modern/exhibition/henri-matisse-cut-outs

Being creative helps the mind ‘play’ and frees us from  ‘formal’ ideas of what we may think ‘art is’.  A creative mind is a healthy mind and there is plenty of research  to prove this.

http://www.culturehealthwellbeing.org.uk/

Click to access rsph_full_report_final.pdf

Click to access VAE_Restoring_the_Balance.pdf

Next week we will be following up on Julia Swarbricks’ workshop by doing more printing and using some of our new found skills to make printing blocks and printing with them.

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Bookmaking and Printing workshop at Ibbison Community Center January 2016

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This week we have been working with the talented artist Julia Swarbrick.

Home

https://juliaswarbrick.wordpress.com/

The theme for Julia’s workshop was travel, holidays and the seaside

We started off by folding long pieces of lovely thick printing paper in to a concertina shape with a fold at the bottom of the paper to create a ‘pocket’ for placing prints, photographs etc inside the books

The next stage was to make book covers .

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Then add coloured string to the inside the book to tie it together

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After making the book we drew and cut out foam to create printing plates to print images for adding inside the books

Then roll out the ink and print the plates.

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Two of the finished book.

Other books went home while the prints dried out, these will be added to the books at home.

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Junes seahorse book

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Roses’ book

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Thank you very much Julia. A lovely and informative workshop.
We are looking forward to seeing you again soon to share the ‘Wakes Week’ and Central Station memories that we spoke about today with people at Memory Lane Cafe.
Thank you also to LeftCoast for funding us, all the fantastic volunteers at Memory Lane Cafe for hosting today’s workshop and the participants who make all these workshops such a success. Really super work again.

Julia is undertaking a project about ‘Wakes Weeks’ and we welcome any more information memories or photographs about these traditional holidays and about Blackpool Central Train Station which was the main stop off point for visitors.

https://juliaswarbrick.wordpress.com/

Julia is undertaking a project about ‘Wakes Weeks’ and we are going to be sharing our memories and information with her about this subject and about Blackpool Central Station.

We have been funded by LeftCoast to undertake this workshop