A Workington art trail will be launched this week to help brighten up the town centre.
The trail, co-ordinated by Cumberland Council, will showcase community artwork.
Participants from Cumbria Deaf Association, Moorclose Community Centre and Victoria Junior School have been hard at work with artists Alison Critchlow, Rosie Galloway-Smith and Melissa Davies, co-creating a vibrant collection of homegrown artwork.
Put in place by Cumberland Council alongside partners, their poetry, paintings and textile installations will be displayed from Friday, November 22, in windows at HSBC, Muffin Break, Workington Library and Workington Railway Station.
As well as the community artwork, each artist has created a piece of their own work in response to the time spent working with their group.
Maps will be available free of charge from all four venues while stocks last, and online at www.workingtonarttrail.com
The website will include audio descriptions and British Sign Language videos with captions and voiceovers. The route is navigable on wheels as well as on foot, with seating, accessible toilets and pedestrian crossings marked on the map.
Workington Art Trail is an Arts Council England and Cumberland Council-funded project aimed at bringing footfall back to the town centre and showcasing what the area has to offer.
Artist Alison Critchlow said: “I’ve loved spending time with members of Cumbria Deaf Association – it’s been thought provoking and great fun. We’re all delighted to share our big, noisy paintings with Workington.”
Rebecca Kiggins, Cumbria Deaf Association community engagement co-ordinator, said: “It was a great opportunity for the association to get involved with a new project and learn new skills in the process.
“Members with hearing loss do feel socially isolated so it is very rewarding to see people coming together, having a ball, and enjoying the process, and seeing that they want to develop their skills at home as well.”
Poet Melissa Davis worked with Victoria Community School to create poetry and paintings on the theme of My Wild Place. She said: “As an artist it’s rare to be so involved in the evolution of a project so this has been unique and exciting! The children’s creativity was a joy to work with – inspiring me to push my own practice in new directions.”
Artist Rosie Galloway-Smith found the project a very special experience. She said: “It has been incredibly heartwarming getting to know the Moorclose Community. I felt privileged to hear their stories and share in their laughter.”
Four further local artists – Kate Lavender, Loki Syme, Nanette Madan and Zoe Forster – have made work inspired by the theme of Connections, which will be on display above the ticket office at Workington Railway Station.
It has been funded by Workington Town Council, with the installation generously supported by Community Rail Cumbria and Northern Rail.
Project manager and producer Anne Waggot Knott said: “Workington Art Trail is a great example of successful, fruitful collaboration. We’ve worked with nine Cumbrian artists, over 50 local participants, plus 15 community partners, venues and suppliers.
“Everyone has made new friends and connections, developed their creative skills, or gained new business. And that’s before it’s even launched – we can now look forward to thousands of visitors to the town centre enjoying this gorgeous artwork over the winter!”
Workington Art Trail runs until February 28.
