Festival  Report    

 

 

2    

Foreword  

The  Brinnington  Arts  Festival  was  the  first  ever  arts  festival  of  its  kind  in  Brinnington,  where  Arc  acted  as  a  catalyst  to  bring  together  artists,  groups  and  residents  in  a  celebration  of  all  that  is  great  about  their  community.    

The  purpose  of  the  festival  was  to  engage  local  people  in  quality  arts  and  cultural  experiences  -­‐  encouraging  and  supporting  local  arts  groups  and  engaging  new  participants  in  a  range  of  dynamic  and  exciting  arts  opportunities.  It  offered  the  chance  to  learn  what  others  in  the  community  were  doing,  to  be  creative,  try  out  different  things,  celebrate  local  talent  and  be  part  of  an  inspired  and  enthusiastic  community.  

As  part  of  the  week  long  programme  of  activity,  groups  took  part  in  the  festival  to  showcase  their  creative  work  and  achievements.  It  built  on  the  huge  success  of  events  that  already  exist  locally  such  as  the  annual  Lantern  Parade and  other  arts  projects  such  as  the  Craft  Club,  Brinnington  Arts  and  Music  and  the  Brinnington  Open  Art  Exhibition.  

The  Arts  Festival  was  led  by  Arc  and  delivered  as  a  partnership  project  with  the  local  community  in  Brinnington,  Lets  Go  Global  and  Neighbourhood  Management,  Stockport  Council.  All  events  and  exhibition  took  place  between  25th  and  30th  March  2013.    

We  hope  that  everyone  who  took  part  in  the  festival  felt  proud  of  their  contribution  to  a  successful  event  that  really  demonstrated  the  vibrant  and  positive  community  in  Brinnington,  and  that  we  will  see  the  legacy  of  the  festival  go  forward  with  more  creative  opportunities  and  collaborations  into  the  future.    

 

Michael  Anderson,  Chief  Executive,  Arc  Jacqui  Wood,  Artistic  Director,  Arc  Diane  Pagan,  Project  Manager,  Brinnington  Arts  Festival  Steph  MacKenzie,  Festival  Artist,  Brinnington  Arts  Festival  Arts  for  Recovery  in  the  Community      

The  Brinnington  Arts  Festival  delivered  

23  events,  performances  and  exhibitions  

over    

 

 

 

3    

Context  

The  Brinnington  Arts  Festival  was  funded  by  Arc,  the  Arts  Council  England  and  AGMA  (the  ten  Greater  Manchester  local  authorities),  through  the  Greater  Manchester  Strategic  Arts  Fund  (GMSAF)  as  part  of  the  See  it!  Say  it!  Do  it!  project  hosted  by  Lets  Go  Global,  an  arts  organisation  based  in  Trafford.  The  GMSAF  is  a  partnership  between  Arts  Council  North  West  and  AGMA.  Some  of  the  events  and  activities  had  funding  from  other  sources,  such  as  Stockport  

 

Arc  has  a  strong  track  record  in  being  able  to  deliver  community  based  arts  and  other  creative  projects  in  Stockport,  often  working  in  partnership  with  other  agencies.  Arc  already  had  a  presence  and  positive  relationships  in  Brinnington  and  was  keen  to  build  on  its  vision  of  a  socially  cohesive  society,  creativity  and  well  being  going  hand  in  hand,  with  the  arts  being  available  to  all.    

Brinnington  experiences  high  levels  of  socio-­‐ Neighbourhood  Management  partners  are  committed  to  working  with  land  activity,  quality  housing  and  green  space,  volunteering  and  community  safety.    

Through  making  the  connection  between  the  potential  of  the  arts  and  the  development  of  strong,  inclusive  communities,  the  festival  aimed  to  leave  a  legacy  of  opportunities  and  connections,  and  enhance  a  positive  image  of  the  area.    

 

The  Brinnington  Arts  Festival  was  

delivered  by  14  local  community  groups    

 

 

 

4    

Objectives  of  the  festival    

The  objectives  for  Brinnington  Arts  Festival  are   vision  of  a  healthy  society,  where  people  get  to  create  together,  make  their  own  choices,  share  support  and  take  responsibility,  regain  their  confidence  and  find  reason  to  hope  for  a  brighter  future.  The  objectives  are  embedded  within  the  common  evaluation  framework  of  the  Greater  Manchester  Arts  Vision,  which  seeks  to  strengthen  the  contribution  of  art  within  the  four  key  priority  outcome  areas  of:  prosperity,  people,  place  and  partnerships.  The  objectives  have  been  co-­‐produced  by  the  participants  themselves,  as  they  contributed  at  the  registration  stage  with  their  hopes  and  aspirations  for  the  festival  and  these  were  used  to  determine  the  project  specific  outcomes.  

Ensure  that  the  community  of  Brinnington  has  the  opportunity  to  experience  and  enjoy  a  range  of  arts  activities    

Build  on  the  work  and  skills  of  existing  groups  using  different  creative  mediums  to  showcase  their  talents  to  a  wider  audience,  increasing  awareness  and  encouraging  more  people  to  participate  

  To  raise  the  profile  of  Brinnington  as  an  area  where  there  is  a  vibrant  and  

creative  arts  and  crafts  community  and  promote  the  range  of  quality  arts  experiences  available  there    

 

bringing  communities  together  

   

 

 

5    

Methodology  

The  framework  that  has  been  used  to  undertake  this  evaluation  has  been  drawn  from  an  Evaluation  Toolkit,  developed  by  the  Institute  of  Cultural  Practices  at  the  University  of  Manchester,  piloted  by  Lets  Go  Global.  The  Evaluation  Toolkit  consists  of  documents  designed  to  capture  data  from  participants  at  different  stages  of  the  project.    

These  included  an  enrolment  form,  two  pre-­‐festival  forms  to  capture  information  about  the  groups  and  their  motivations  for  participating  in  the  festival,  mid-­‐project  interviews,  workshop  logs  and  post-­‐festival  questionnaires.  Findings  were  drawn  from  the  returned  forms,  which  comprised  as  follows:  

Enrolment  Form    14  respondents  Feedback  Form  1:  about  your  group    14  respondents  Feedback  Form  2:  about  the  festival    14  respondents  Mid-­‐project  interview    6  completed  interviews  Workshop  Log    11  completed  All  about  the  festival    12  respondents    The  evaluation  methods  have  ensured  that  all  groups  who  participated  in  the  festival  have  contributed.  The  variety  of  methods  used  creates  confidence  in  the  findings  of  this  report.    The  questions  that  this  evaluation  aims  to  answer  are:  

Who  took  part  in  the  festival?     What  were  their  motivations  for  taking  part,  and  were  

their  hopes  achieved?     How  far  did  the  festival  meet  its  headline  objectives?   What  was  the  impact  of  the  festival?  

   

 

 

6    

   

Brinnington  in  Bloom    First  House  Cafe  Installation      

Artists:  Pure  Studio  Artists  

Participants:  Twenty  seven  artists  worked  on  the  Brinnington  in  Bloom  installation.  Each  artist  dedicated  time  to  this  project  over  approximately  58  days.  At  least  four  artists  a  day  spent  three  hours  of  their  time  creating  the  pieces  that  made  up  the  artwork.  This  means  that  approximately  696  hours  were  spent  on  producing  the  installation,  supported  by  three  volunteers  and  two  artists  /  support  workers.  

Pure  Studio  is  a  studio  facility  for  artists  with  learning  disabilities.  People  can  work  collaboratively  or  independently  in  the  studio  and  can  learn  new  creative  skills  there.  By  coming  together  and  sharing  the  studio,  the  artists  have  become  a  supportive  collective,  friendships  have  formed,  ideas  have  been  shared  and  achievements  celebrated.  

The  Brinnington  in  Bloom  installation  was  inspired  both  by  nature  and  by  the  existing  wall  art  in  the  cafe.  The  wire  bound  butterflies  suspended  from  the  impressive  wreath  of  colourful  twigs  brought  a  spring-­‐like  joy  to  the  cafe  and  there  was  always  something  delightful  to  discover  in  the  Bloom-­‐themed  table  decorations,  menus  and  tray  covers.  

Brinnington  Arts  Festival.  It  gave  us  an  opportunity  to  show  case  our  art  work  in  a  different  way.  We  attended  workshops  and  saw  artwork  created  by  our  fellow  local  artists.  All  in  all  an  enjoyable  experience.  We  really  felt  like  

 Abigail  Betton,  Pure  Innovations  

 

 

7    Animal  Heads  

First  House  Library  exhibition  

Artists:  Pearl,  Brinnington,  supported  by  Charlotte  Brown  (Arc)  

Participants:  7  

The  Pearl  group  was  set  up  to  provide  a  creative  outlet  for  mums  in  Brinnington  who  are  suffering  or  are  at  risk  of  suffering  from  post-­‐natal  depression.  Women  have  the  chance  to  find  time  for  themselves  and  meet  others  who  may  be  feeling  the  same.  Pearl  uses  arts  to  help  people  gain  confidence  and  skills,  health  and  wellbeing.  

The  exhibition  of  paper  animal  heads  was  created  by  seven  women  from  Pearl.  Each  animal  was  designed  with  a  child  in  mind,  and  the  idea  of  bringing  to  life  a  favourite  character  or  recognisable  smile  for  each  face.  The  animal  sculptures  themselves  were  made  completely  from  paper  -­‐  graph  paper,  wrapping  paper,  wallpaper  and  magazines  are  just  some  of  the  recycled  materials  that  were  used  to  make  the  features,  fur  and  characteristics.  

The  group  commented:      

     

 The  artist  Charlotte  Brown  said:  activittoo  for  the  community .  

 

 

8    

 

Natural  Forms    First  House  Library  exhibition  

Artists:  Spectrum  Art  Group    

Participants:  8  

Spectrum  is  an  art  group  that  meets  every  week  at  the  Crescent  Road  Day  Centre  in  Brinnington.  It  is  open  to  anyone  who  wants  to  paint  or  try  other  crafts.  The  group  is  run  entirely  by  volunteers  and  while  there  are  no  tutors  there  are  always  plenty  of  people  there  to  offer  help,  and  they  often  have  demonstrations  and  workshops.  

The  art  group  took  part  in  the  exhibition  at  First  House  and  exhibited  using  the    The  group  meets  

because  all  of  the  members  have  a  passion  for  art,  and  they  have  exhibited  their  work  previously  at  the  Open  Exhibition  in  Brinnington  in  2012,  and  elsewhere.  

d  the  exhibition  at  First  House,  which  included  paintings  by  some  of  the  members  of  Spectrum.  The  exhibition    alongside  the  cafe  installation    was  open  for  the  duration  of  the  festival,  apart  from  Easter  Friday  when  First  House  was  closed  for  the  Bank  Holiday.  

Spectrum  were  hoping  to  recruit  some  new  members  for  their  group,  but  as  yet  they  are  not  sure  that  their  hopes  have  been  achieved.  

The  work  of  our  group  has  been  promoted  Pat  Mundy,  Spectrum  Art  Group  

 

 

 

9    Brushstrokes  

First  House  Library  exhibition  

Artists:  Brushstrokes  Art  Group  

Participants:  10  

Brushstrokes  was  founded  in  1991  as  it  was  recognised  that  creative  activity  in  a  social  setting  would  be  therapeutic  to  those  who  had  suffered  a  stroke.  The  legacy  of  a  stroke  can  be  isolation,  depression,  frustration  and  diminished  self-­‐esteem  as  well  as  physical  and  neurological  problems.    

There  are  currently  around  16  people  (including  volunteer  helpers)  who  attend  the  group.  The  group  mainly  consists  of  retired  people  who  have  had  a  stroke    some  members  have  been  partially  paralysed  whilst  others  have  communication  problems.  All  benefit  however  from  meeting  socially  as  a  group  and  having  the  opportunity  to  develop  painting  and  craft  skills.  The  picture  is  of  Keith,  a  member  of  Brushstrokes,  with  his  cross-­‐stitched  picture  of  the  Sydney  Opera  House  which  he  produced  despite  only  having  the  use  of  one  hand.  

The  art  group  meets  at  the  Crescent  Road  Day  Centre  every  week  and  took  part  in  the  exhibition  at  First  House,  putting  forward  a  selection  of  their  pictures  which  had  been  created  using  a  variety  of  media.  Brushstrokes  were  hoping  to  increase  local  awareness  of  their  group,  raise  awareness  of  the  arts  and  give  people  an  insight  into  what  is  happening  locally.  

 

 

10    

 

Watercolour  exhibition  First  House  Library  exhibition  

Artists:  Arc  Art  Group,  supported  by  Sue  Diskin  (Arc)    

Participants:  8  

The  Arc  Art  Group  provides  an  opportunity  to  be  creative,  learn  new  skills  and  spend  time  with  other  people  in  a  relaxed  atmosphere.  The  group  have  explored  a  range  of  artforms  and  techniques  from  watercolour  painting  to  printing.  

The  group  took  part  in  the  exhibition  at  First  House,  choosing  their  watercolours  to  put  on  show.  For  most  of  the  group,  it  was  the  first  time  any  of  their  artwork  had  been  on  show  and  this  was  a  great  feeling  for  them.  A  few  of  the  watercolours  were  chosen  to  be  made  up  as  prints  and  were  on  sale  as  greetings  cards  at  the  Arc  festival  stall  at  the  market.  

Vicky,  a  member  of  the  group,  said      

The  group  were  hoping  to  increase  self-­‐confidence  by  taking  part  in  the  festival,  allowing  members  to  be  proud  of  their  creativity.    They  were  also  hoping  to  encourage  some  new  members  and  show  that  something  positive  was  happening  in  Brinnington.  

 

 

11    Samba  drumming      

Artists:  Brinnington  Arts  and  Music  (BAM!)  led  by  Anthony  Ward  

Duration:  Four  half  hour  sessions  over  two  days  

Participants:  10    

Audience:  80  

BAM!  Is  a  drumming  group  for  ages  7  and  over.  The  aim  of  the  drumming  classes  is  to  meet  new  people,  have  lots  of  fun,  gain  confidence  and  learn  new  skills.  

BAM!  braved  the  cold  and  blizzards  to  bring  their  outdoor  drumming  workshop  to  both  the  opening  day  of  the  festival,  and  the  weekly  market  outside  First  House  in  Brinnington.  Both  days  brought  harsh  winter  wind  and  snow  but  despite  the  weather,  the  samba  drummers  soon  drew  a  large  crowd  to  the  market  on  Wednesday  27th  March  and  a  few  people  stopped  to  have  a  go  on  the  drums.  

The  energetic  drumming  lifted  the  atmosphere  of  a  bitterly  cold  market  and  brightened  the  day    it  ended  with  the  sun  shining  and  a  happy  festival  vibe.  

BAM!  were  hoping  to  increase  local  awareness  of  their  activity  and  show  that  there  are  talented  people  in  the  community  with  a  lot  to  offer.  After  the  festival,  Anthony  Ward  from  BAM!  said  that  they  received  lots  of  positive  feedback  about  their  performance  at  the  market.  

 

 

 

12    Lantern  Making  Workshop  

Artists:  Brinnington  Lantern  Team,  led  by  Mary  Dutton  

Duration:  Two  six  hour  sessions  over  two  days    

Participants:  47  

The  Lantern  Parade  first  flourished  15  years  ago  and  has  been  an  important  annual  event  in  the  community  calendar  in  Brinnington  ever  since.  In  addition  to  the  two  lantern  making  workshops  that  were  advertised  as  part  of  the  Brinnington  Arts  Festival,  volunteers  had  been  busy  visiting  schools  and  local  community  groups  like  the  Rainbows,  Brownies  and  Scouts  to  make  sure  that  everyone  got  a  chance  to  make  a  lantern  in  preparation  for  the  Lantern  Parade.  

Both  workshops  were  very  busy  with  the  session  on  Wednesday  opening  hours  earlier  than  it  was  scheduled  to,  due  to  people  turning  up  wanting  to  make  their  lantern  for  

lantern  parade  and  many  people  were  excited  about  the  event.      

Mary  Dutton  who  led  the  lantern  making  workshops  said  that  her  hopes  for  the  festival  had  been  achieved:  individual  art  projects  and  then  be  part  of  the  whole  project.  Informing  people  i.e.  community  and  funders  that  we  can  work  well  as  a  team  and  informing  individuals  just  what  is  available  in  Brinnington.  It  brought  the  community  together  as  a  whole.  

 

 

 

13    Easter  Bonnet  Making    

Artists:  Jo  Hall  and  Steph  MacKenzie  (Arc)  

Duration:  Two  x  two  hour  sessions  over  two  days    

Participants:  45  

As  the  festival  was  held  in  the  week  leading  up  to  Easter,  two  Easter  bonnet  making  workshops  were  held,  one  in  the  library  at  First  House  and  one  upstairs  in  the  Art  Room.  A  variety  of  plain  hats  were  available  with  various  materials  to  decorate  them  with.  

There  was  a  lot  of  interest  in  the  workshops  and  everybody  seemed  to  have  a  great  time    there  was  some  fantastic  feedback  at  the  end  of  the  sessions.  All  of  the  children  engaged  really  well  and  it  was  an  opportunity  for  parents  and  carers  to  get  involved  as  well.  Each  person  created  their  own  unique  hat  and  many  of  them  were  looking  forward  to  wearing  them  at  the  Lantern  Parade.  

These  are  quotes  from  some  of  the  participants:  

 

 

 

 

 

 

14    Craft  Workshop  

Artists:  Brinnington  Craft  Club,  led  by  Sue  Clare  

Duration:  Two  hours  

Participants:  27  

Jewellery  making  and  card  making  are  two  of  the  regular  activities  that  take  place  at  the  Brinnington  Craft  Club,  held  every  week  at  the  Brinnington  Community  Centre.  The  workshop      aimed  to  give  more  people  the  opportunity  to  have  a  go  at  these  craft  activities,  and  to  make  something  that  they  could  take  home.  

The  workshop  was  very  busy  and  some  of  the  Craft  Club  regulars  were  there  showing  people  of  all  ages  how  to  make  cards  and  earrings.  Normally  it  is  adults  who  attend  the  craft  club  as  it  is  held  during  school  hours,  but  as  it  was  the  Easter  holidays  lots  of  children  came  along  with  their  parents.  Some  of  the  parents  commented  that  it  would  be  good  to  have  more  art  and  craft  activities  for  children  to  take  part  in  in  Brinnington.  

There  was  a  great  atmosphere  in  the  Community  Centre  as  everyone  got  stuck  into  being  creative.  

This  workshop  provided  people  with  an  opportunity  to  try  out  an  artform  and  create  something.    

 

   

 

 

15    Art  Display  

Artists:  Artistic  Moves  

Duration:  Three  hours  

Participants:  11  

Audience:  13  

Artistic  Moves  is  an  art  group  and  is  for  people  who  have  a  long  term  health  condition.  All  members  of  the  group  worked  really  hard  to  contribute  to  the  exhibition.  They  hung  a  display  of  their  artwork  around  the  walls  of  the  Crescent  Road  Day  Centre,  where  they  meet  every  week.  

 The  exhibition  included  a  variety  of  media  -­‐  acrylics,  oils,  mixed  media  and  knitted  and  crocheted  items.  The  group  were  pleased  when  people  arrived  to  see  the  exhibition  as  the  weather  was  exceptionally  cold  outside!  

Artistic  Moves  were  hoping  to  encourage  more  local  people  to  join  the  group    in  the  words  of  Paul  Egerton  who  supports  the  group    Paul  said  after  the  festival  that  their  hopes  for  the  festival  had  been  achieved    

   

   

 

 

16    Photography  exhibition  

Artists:  Midweek  Group  

Duration:  Two  and  a  half  hours  

Participants:  12  

Midweek  is  a  peer  support  group  for  people  with  mental  health  /  social  isolation  issues.  There  are  up  to  20  members  of  the  group  who  attend  weekly  for  friendship,  support,  learning  opportunities  and  a  three  course  meal.  

The  exhibition  was  a  series  of  photographs  of  a  project  which  Midweek  had  enjoyed  last  year.  The  group  worked  with  an  artist  to  create  individualised  composite  mixed  media  artworks  which  were  then  photographed.  

A  volunteer  at  Midweek  said   ate  a  vibrant  art  and  craft  community  in  Brinnington    raising  the  status  of  the  area  and  

 

When  asked  whether  his  hopes  for  the  festival  had  been  achieved,  Andy  Jones  who  supports  the  Midweek  Group  said  there  are  many  more!  A  very  good  beginning.  Hope  it  will  get  better  year  by  

 

Members  of  the  Midweek  Group  also  held  a  market  stall  during  the  festival.  Five  members  of  the  group  volunteered  to  staff  the  market  stall  and  many  more  members  put  the  hours  in  at  home,  knitting  teddy  bears  and  Easter  chicks  which  were  for  sale  on  the  day  of  the  exhibition.    

 

 

17    Arc  Pop-­‐up  Gallery  

Artists:  Arc    

Duration:  Six  hours  

Participants:  3  

Arc  put  on  a  market  stall  at  the  weekly  Brinnington  market  that  takes  place  outside  First  House.  The  market  stall  was  full  of  artwork  and  crafts  for  sale.  Some  of  this  was  created  by  Arc  participants  but  the  main  purpose  of  holding  the  stall  was  to  put  some  art  and  craft  produce  on  sale  that  was  created  by  people  from  Brinnington.    

A    festival  brand  was  created  and  people  from  the  Brinnington  Craft  Club  provided  jewellery  and  cards  that  they  had  produced,  to  be  sold  under  this  brand.  The  Arc  Art  Group  also  printed  up  some  of  their  watercolours  into  greeting  cards  and  these  were  also  on  sale.  Many  of  the  items  sold    despite  it  being  a  very  cold  and  snowy  day!      

Lucie  Fitzpatrick  who  ran  the  market  stall  on  behalf  of  Arc  said  day  have  been  achieved    a  good  amount  w

 

 

   

 

 

18    Your  Brinnington    

Meet  the  Team  event  Artists:  Brinnington  Media  Group,  supported  by  Annette  Naor  (Arc)  

Duration:  Two  x  two  hour  sessions  

Participants:  55  

sessions  aimed  to  increase  awareness  of  what  the  Media  Group  does  and  several  of  the  community  volunteers  from  the  group  were  on  hand  throughout  the  day  to  talk  to  residents,  give  demonstrations  of  the  website  and  give  away  goodie  packs  with  copies  of  the  special  festival  edition  newsletter.  

There  was  a  steady  flow  of  people  visiting  the  team  throughout  the  day.  Many  people  were  interested  in  finding  out  more  about  the  Media  Group  and  several  were  keen  to  join  the  team  and  get  involved  in  what  they  do.  The  children  who  visited  the  team  all  enjoyed  the  special  colouring  sheets  and  everyone  took  away  a  goodie  pack.  

Malcolm  from  the  Media  Group  said  used  to  be  stuck  at  home,  isolated  and  depressed.  Since  joining  the  group,  I  have  

 

 

 

19    

 

Watercolour  workshop    Artists:  Arc  Art  Group,  supported  by  Sue  Diskin  (Arc)    

Duration:  Two  hours  

Participants:  11  

The  watercolour  workshop  was  aimed  at  giving  people  the  opportunity  to  experiment  with  different  watercolour  techniques  and  create  paintings  using  various  effects.  

The  workshop  went  very  well  with  all  participants  engaging  positively  with  the  artform.  Some  of  the  participants  were  regulars  from  the  Arc  Art  Group,  but  the  workshop  was  open  to  all  and  a  few  new  faces  attended,  including  two  older  children  and  one  of  the  members  of  the  Brushstrokes  art  group.  They  created  various  watercolour  sample  pictures  using  materials  such  as  latex  and  salt  to  give  different  effects.  

This  workshop  encouraged  people  to  learn  about  art  and  have  a  quality  arts  experience.  

 

   

 

 

20    Generation  Collaboration  

Artists:  Brinnington  Residents  and  Tenants  Association  (BRTA)  

Duration:  3  hours  

Participants:  25  young  people  aged  10    16  (two  projects)  

Generation  Collaboration  was  a  photography  exhibition  put  together  by  the  Brinnington  Residents  and  Tenants  Association.  It  documented  two  projects  that  had  taken  place  in  2012    a  Young  Environmental  Champions  project  and  a  young  photographers  project  where  a  group  of  young  people  took  photos  of  their  area  and  compared  it  to  other  areas.  

The  projects  provided  the  young  people  with  the  opportunity  to  learn  aspects  of  photography,  and  also  engaged  them  in  challenging  negative  stereotypes  about  Brinnington,  seeing  their  area  in  a  different  light  when  compared  to  other  areas  of  social  housing  in  Stockport  and  encouraging  them  to  capture  positive  aspects  of  life  in  the  area.  

The  exhibition  was  held  at  St  Lukes  Parish  Hall  and  20  people  visited  it  over  the  course  of  three  hours.  Everyone  who  visited  the  exhibition  thought  it  was  really  positive.  

Rebecca  Horton  from  Stockport  Homes  who  supports  BRTA  said:   I  heard  very  positive  comments  from  the  members  of  the  tenants  group  about  activities  they  had  been  involved  in  and  the  exhibitions  they  saw.  I  think  the  festival  provided  a  great  opportunity  to  showcase  the  vibrant  and  varied  work  and  activities  that  are  happening  in  the  area  and  the  achievements  of  volunteers.  The  group  have  made  contact  with  a  couple  of  new  residents  who  have  expressed  an  interest  in  getting  more  involved  as  a  result  of  their  exhibition  which  has  been  a  positive  outcome .  

 

 

 

21    Just  a  few  quid  

Artists:  NK  Theatre  Arts  

Duration:  1  hour  

Participants:  7  

Audience:  45  

Arts  who  worked  with  young  people  from  Brinnington,  Stockport  Council  and  the  National  Illegal  Money  Lending  Team.  The  topic  of  the  play  was  the  danger  of  loan  sharks  and  many  of  the  participants  engaged  with  theatre  for  the  first  time  to  rehearse  this  emotional  performance.  The  play  told  the  story  of  a  young  woman  who  borrowed  money  from  a  loan  shark  and  her  struggle  to  pay  the  loan  back    the  Credit  Union  was  promoted  at  the  beginning  and  end  of  the  performance  to  highlight  a  real  alternative  to  the  problem  of  illegal  money  lending  experienced  in  the  area.  

It  was  a  brilliant  performance  by  seven  young  actresses    five  of  whom  were  from  Brinnington.  There  was  a  great  response  from  the  audience  and  the  young  women  showed  amazing  talent  and  potential,  saying  at  the  end  that  this  experience  had  been  a  real  confidence  boost  for  them.  The  performance  was  filmed  and  will  be  turned  into  a  dvd,  potentially  providing  a  resource  for  other  communities  and  schools.Our  hopes  in  terms  of  our  input  into  the  project  were  to  engage  young  people  of  Brinnington  in  the  performing  arts  as  well  as  producing  a  piece  of  work  that  promoted  the  credit  union,  I  feel  we  achieved  this  well  and  hope  that  the  message  within  the  project  was  received  loud  and  clear  although  that  is  not  something  you  can  measure  straight  away .  Dawn  Wrigley,  NK  Theatre  Arts    The  young  people  grew  in  confidence  and  developed  their  performance  skills.  They  exceeded  their  own  expectations  and  it  was  wonderful  to  see  their  pride  in  their  own  hard  work .  Emma  Ramsden,  NK  Theatre  Arts  

 

 

22    Art-­‐ppreciation  

Artists:  Rising  Stars  NW  

Duration:  Four  hours  

Participants:  50  

Rising  Stars  NW  is  an  arts,  music,  media  and  events  community  organisation  working  with  young  people  under  25  to  inspire,  educate  and  promote  their  talent.  RSNW  worked  with  a  group  of  young  people  aged  13-­‐16  at  Brinnington  Youth  Centre  on  a  

young  people  worked  with  rising  stars  Stripez,  Blizzard  and  Sasha  who  assisted  with  vocal  coaching,  lyrics  writing,  beat  making  and  rapping.  

 

The  young  people  wrote  and  recorded  five  tracks  which  they  performed  at  the  event  on  29th  March  at  Brinnington  Youth  Centre.  Before  the  festival,  Rising  Stars  said  that  

music  forms,  encouraging  the  audience  to  participate  in  the  creation  and  enjoyment  of  music.    

Solomon  Onaolapo  from  Rising  Stars  said  that  his  hopes  for  the  Brinnington  Arts  Festival  had  been  achieved  because  hold  a  music  event  showcasing  various  talents  from  the  young  people  of  

 

 

 

23    Lantern  Parade  

Artists:  Brinnington  Lantern  Team      

Duration:  One  hour  

Participants:  250  

Audience:  150  

When  the  first  Lantern  Parade  took  place  fifteen  years  ago  there  were  about  30    40  people  in  total  who  took  the  parade  around  the  streets  of  Brinnington.  It  has  grown  and  grown  over  the  years  and  this  year,  the  lantern  parade  attracted  hundreds  of  people  out  onto  the  streets.  All  the  work  that  goes  into  the  parade  is  led  by  volunteers  from  the  local  community  and  local  volunteer  Mary  Dutton  has  been  central  to  its  organisation  from  the  very  start.    

Pay  funding  to  employ  two  artists,  Fiona  Smith  and  Jo  Foley,  to  design  and  help  them  to  create  some  magnificent  giant  spring  flowers  to  lead  the  parade.  Countless  smaller  lanterns  followed,  being  held  proudly  aloft  by  children  and  adults  alike.  BAM!  were  there  with  their  energetic  samba  drumming  and  dancers,  and  a  giant  teddy  bear  charmed  the  children.  

The  festival  ended  with  this  glorious  celebration,  which  brought  together  weeks  and  weeks  of  hard-­‐working  preparation  by  the  local  community.  

 

 

 

24    

Publicity  

The  strength  of  participation  in  the  festival  reflected  the  efforts  that  went  into  publicising  the  events  by  all  partners.  The  groups  involved,  Arc,  the  Neighbourhood  Management  Team  and  Lets  Go  Global  all  used  a  range  of  media  to  reach  as  many  people  as  possible.    

Tradition  methods  of  publicity  were  used  with  posters  being  put  up  around  the  area  and  further  afield  in  Stockport,  and  a  festival  brochure  was  produced  with  full  listings  distributed  to  all  groups  participating,  all  public  venues  in  the  area  and  to  all  households  in  Brinnington.    

The  radio  station  Imagine  FM,  Granada  Reports  and  the  Stockport  Express  all  ran  publicity  stories  about  the  festival  and  the  Lantern  Parade.    

Two  main  websites  were  used,  the  Arc  website  and  the  Your  Brinnington  website,  run  by  the  Media  Group  at  First  House  and  

produced  a  special,  newsletter,  which  contained  features  about  all  the  groups  participating.  

The  festival  also  had  a  presence  on  social  media,  with  Facebook  and  Twitter  being  used  by  Arc,  Your  Brinnington  and  Lets  Go  Global  to  reach  a  wider  audience.    

Although  this  was  not  measured,  many  of  the  people  attending  the  exhibitions  and  performances  were  the  family  and  friends  of  those  who  were  participating,  who  wanted  to  celebrate  their  achievements  with  them.  

 

   

 

 

25    

How  far  did  the  festival  meet  its  headline  objectives?  

 In  line  with  the  Greater  Manchester  Arts  Vision,  the  overall  aims  of  the  festival  were  for  more  people  to  experience  and  participate  in  the  arts  in  Brinnington,  and  to  help  to  develop  strong  and  inclusive  communities.  

Brinnington  has  had  a  Lantern  Parade  every  year  for  fifteen  years  and  the  first  art  exhibition  was  held  in  First  House  in  the  summer  of  2012,  so  although  the  area  has  had  arts  experiences  on  offer  it  has  never  held  anything  on  the  scale  of  the  arts  festival  before.  There  are  also  a  number  of  active  community  groups  in  Brinnington  who  are  engaged  in  arts  and  crafts  activity.  Arc  was  successful  in  acting  as  the  catalyst  that  brought  all  of  these  factors  together.  

to  identify  existing  community  groups  and  organisations  who  might  be  interested  in  participating  in  the  festival.  Overwhelmingly,  the  response  was  positive  and  the  majority  of  groups  who  were  approached  were  enthusiastic  about  participating,  with  only  two  being  unable  to  contribute  due  to  prior  commitments.    

The  crucial  factor  in  determining  the  success  of  the  festival  was  that  many  events  were  put  on  by  the  community.  The  groups  were  all  interested  in  different  aspects  of  the  arts,  which  meant  that  it  was  relatively  straightforward  to  put  together  a  varied  programme  of  exhibitions  and  activities.  The  festival  had  strong  project  management  from  Arc  from  the  start  and  their  success  in  matching  a  suitable  artist  to  work  with  the  groups  meant  that  a  supportive  relationship  was  established  in  the  preparatory  period.  

Numbers  Number  of  community  groups  taking  part  -­‐  14  

Total  number  of  exhibitions  /  performances  /  workshops  -­‐  23  

Number  of  participants  -­‐  585  

Audience  numbers  (live)  -­‐  626  

Number  of  young  people  (0-­‐18)  -­‐  183  

Number  of  young  people  (19-­‐24)  -­‐  37  

 

 

 

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In  the  lead-­‐in  period  it  was  soon  discovered  that  there  was  a  great  deal  of  skill,  talent  and  experience  amongst  the  groups  and  that  the  additional  input  from  Arc  would  involve  co-­‐ordinating  everything  to  happen  at  the  same  time.  Many  of  the  groups  already  had  a  surplus  of  work  that  they  would  be  ready  and  willing  to  exhibit,  and  for  others  it  provided  a  purpose  and  a  focus  for  the  artistic  activity  that  they  were  currently  engaged  in.    

This  readiness  to  engage  ensured  that  over  the  course  of  one  week,  the  wider  community  of  Brinnington  had  the  opportunity  to  experience  and  enjoy  a  range  of  arts  activities.  Many  different  creative  mediums  were  used,  and  because  of  the  level  of  publicity  many  new  participants  were  encouraged.    

Overall  feedback  from  respondents  was  very  positive  with  the  majority  either  very  satisfied  (66%)  or  fairly  satisfied  (25%)  with  the  festival.  This  figure  is  strengthened  by  mainly  positive  comments  from  the  groups  who  participating  in  the  festival.  

 Overall,  91%  of  the  groups  participating  were  either  very  or  fairly  satisfied  with  the  Brinnington  Arts  Festival  

 

   

 

 

27    

Social  Impact  

Alongside  the  numbers  of  people  participating  in  the  festival  and  experiencing  the  arts,  it  was  clear  from  the  start  of  the  project  that  what  was  important  to  the  community  groups  involved  was  the  social  impact.  The  following  two  social  outcomes  were  identified  from  the  feedback  on  the  enrolment  forms,  that  the  festival  should:    

Raise  the  profile  of  Brinnington  as  an  area  where  there  is  a  vibrant  and  creative  arts  and  crafts  community  and  promote  the  range  of  quality  arts  experiences  available  there;  and    

Celebrate  the  talent  i .  

-­‐up  questionnaire  which  was  sent  to  all  of  the  groups  that  participated  in  the  festival:  

 Three-­‐quarters  of  the  groups  participating  thought  the  festival  had  raised  the  profile  of  Brinnington  in  a  positive  way  

 Half  of  the  groups  participating  thought  the  festival  had  helped  to  create  a  vibrant  arts  and  crafts  community  in  Brinnington  

 All  of  the  groups  participating  felt  that  the  work  of  their  group  had  been  promoted    

 

 Ten  out  of  twelve  of  the  groups  participating  thought  that  the  festival  celebrated  and  showcased  local  talent  

 Seven  out  of  twelve  of  the  groups  participating  said  that  taking  part  in  the  festival  had  improved  their  confidence  

 Three-­‐quarters  of  the  groups  participating  thought  that  the  festival  had  encouraged  community  inclusion  

   

 

 

28    

 Volunteering  and  employment  impact  

The  success  of  the  Brinnington  Arts  Festival  reflects  the  strength  of  the  community  within  the  area,  and  this  section  attempts  to  capture  the  impact  that  the  festival  has  had,  particularly  in  terms  of  volunteering.  

From  the  information  collected  from  groups  participating  at  the  festival  and  from  Arc  itself,  it  is  estimated  that  the  number  of  volunteers  who  supported  the  festival  in  some  way  was  80.  In  the  run  up  to  the  festival  and  throughout  the  duration  of  the  festival  itself,  the  number  of  hours  that  these  volunteers  worked  amounted  to  approximately  1473  hours.  

Using  the  figure  of  £12.48  as  a  measure  of  gross  hourly  pay  (NCVO  figure  of  gross  hourly  pay  within  the  voluntary  sector  in  2010  /  11),  the  wage  replacement  value  of  the  hours  that  these  volunteers  worked  was  £18,383.  By  far  the  most  substantial  voluntary  contribution  was  from  the  Lantern  Team,  who  put  in  a  collective  917  hours  of  time  in  support  of  this  event.  The  wage  replacement  value  of  the  hours  that  these  volunteers  worked  was  £11,444.  

This  demonstrates  the  vibrancy  of  the  voluntary  and  community  sector  in  Brinnington  and  the  immense  value  that  the  sector  brings  in  terms  of  the  economic  significance  of  volunteers.  This  is  a  vital  contribution  made  by  local  groups  and  individuals  and  which  underpinned  the  festival.  

 

£18,383  =  the  estimated  wage  replacement  value  of  the  volunteers  at  the  Brinnington  Arts  Festival  

A  number  of  artists  were  also  employed  in  connection  with  the  Brinnington  Arts  Festival.  Some  of  these  artists  were  employed  directly  using  the  funding  from  Lets  Go  Global  and  Arc  and  carried  out  a  number  of  functions    project  managing  the  festival  itself,  producing  the  festival  programme  and  publicity,  supporting  the  community  groups  and  volunteers  and  evaluating  the  project.  Others  were  employed  in  a  variety  of  ways,  for  example,  directly  commissioned  by  community  groups  using  sources  of  funding  such  as  You  Say  We  Pay,  and  via  other  organisations  such  as  Pure  Innovations  and  Stockport  Homes.  

Numbers  Number  of  volunteers  -­‐  80  

Number  of  volunteer  hours  -­‐  1473  

Number  of  artists  employed  -­‐  16  

 

 

 

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What  happens  next?  

All  of  the  groups  who  participated  were  asked  what  they  would  like  to  see  happen  with  arts  and  crafts  in  Brinnington  after  the  festival.  These  are  some  of  their  thoughts  and  ideas  for  future  projects:    We  would  like  to  be  involved  in  future  art  festivals,  perhaps  in  different  locations  as  well  as  Brinnington.  We're  based  in  the  Reddish  area  of  Stockport  (though  our  artists  have  spent  time  in  various  areas  of  the  town)  and  would  be  interested  in  taking  part  in  projects  that  celebrate  the  areas  rich  history.  We  would  also  be  interested  in  contributing  to  group  exhibitions .  Pure  Studio    Maybe  it  would  be  better  to  have  some  of  the  festival  in  the  centre  of  Stockport?  It  felt  like  there  was  too  much  going  on  in  the  library  at  First  House,  too  much  competition    maybe  it  would  be  better  just  to  have  an  exhibition    

way  over  the  Easter  holidays .  Spectrum  Art  Group    Please  keep  in  touch  with  all  the  groups  and  let  them  be  aware  of  what  is  going  on.  Maybe  make  the  festival  an  annual  /  bi-­‐annual  event    working  together  we  can  make  the  festival  an  even  bigger  /  better  event.  How  about  a  small  music  festival  of  just  local  artists?  We  have  plenty  of  green  areas  where  this  could  happen .  Mary  Dutton,  Brinnington  Lanterns    More  art  /  craft  displays  in  community  buildings  in  Brinnington .  Andy  Jones,  Midweek  Group    We  would  like  to  develop  an  inter-­‐generational  project  with  new  and  existing  groups  in  the  community  around  skills  swapping  e.g.  older  people  teaching  younger  people  knitting,  baking,  dancing,  DIY  etc  and  younger  people  showing  older  people  how  to  use  computers,  smartphones,  modern  dance  etc.  This  could  be  a  great  way  of  bringing  older  and  younger  people  together,  and  for  people  to  learn  and  develop  skills  and  hobbies .  Rebecca  Horton,  Stockport  Homes,  on  behalf  of  Brinnington  Tenants  and  Residents  Association    I  think  in  terms  of  our  input  it  would  be  great  to  see  some  further  performing  arts  work  in  the  community  whether  that  be  provided  by  ourselves  or  by  company  within  the  Brinnington  estate.  I  know  that  all  the  girls  who  participated  were  keen  to  do  more  and  I  feel  that  the  more  that  is  provided  the  greater  

 it  is  not  just  drama  that  would  

 

 

30    

be  worthwhile  I  also  think  that  something  popular  such  as  street  dance  would  be  excellent.  Above  all  else,  performing  arts  teach  life  skills  and  help  improve  on  things  such  as  confidence  and  self  belief  in  a  positive  way .  Dawn  Wrigley,  NK  Theatre  Arts    The  young  people  involved  need  something  new  to  work  towards.  They  really  enjoyed  the  process  and  sense  of  achievement.  They  were  asking  what  the  next  project  would  be.  It  may  be  worth  looking  at  putting  on  another  performance  of  the  show    also  be  good  to  consider  a  new  drama  project  for  them  to  work  on .  Emma  Ramsden,  NK  Theatre  Arts    

event  /  workshop.  All  the  groups  could  talk  about  their  experiences  

would  definitely  like  to  take  part    Solomon  Onaolapo,  Rising  Stars    

ike  to  see  existing  groups  increase  their  membership  and  capacity  to  become  more  inclusive  and  confident.   ike  to  see  Thursday  ARC  sessions  increase  membership  and  for  the  space  in  First  House  to  be  used  more  by  local  groups  for  creative  activities.   ike  to  repeat  the  festival  next  year  with  the  community  taking  a  greater  role  in  organising  it .  Dave  Stokoe,  Neighbourhood  Manager    

e  for  future  projects  and  would  like  to  be  kept  informed  of  all  things  happening.  A  little  more  advertising  next  time .  Paul  Egerton,  Artistic  Moves    It  would  be  good  to  be  able  to  exhibit  the  work  we  have  created  somewhere  else  in  the  community  perhaps  or  be  part  of  a  show  at  ARC.  It  would  also  be  great  to  use  the  positive  work  that  came  out  of  the  Arts  Festival  as  an  example  for  future  work  such  as  Pearl.    Pearl  is  a  vital  part  of  the  local  community,  utilis  getting  women  together  who  feel  the  same.  Let s  hope  that  the  work  here  continues  as  a  result  of  some  of  the  positive  promotion  that  came  about  through  the  Arts  Festival .  Charlotte  Brown,  Pearl  

           

 

 

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Conclusions  The  questions  that  this  evaluation  aimed  to  answer  were:   Who  took  part  in  the  festival?     What  were  their  motivations  for  taking  part,  and  were  their  hopes  achieved?     How  far  did  the  festival  meet  its  headline  objectives?   What  was  the  impact  of  the  festival?  

Over  the  course  of  one  week,  the  Brinnington  Arts  Festival  inspired  14  community  groups,  80  volunteers  and  585  participants  of  all  ages  to  engage  in  a  range  of  quality  arts  and  cultural  experiences,  in  an  area  that  experiences  some  of  the  highest  levels  of  socio-­‐economic  deprivation  in  Greater  Manchester.  Arc  was  instrumental  in  making  this  happen.  

It  encouraged  and  supported  local  arts  groups  and  engaged  new  participants  in  a  range  of  dynamic  and  exciting  arts  opportunities.  A  significant  number  of  the  groups  participating  were  active  in  a  range  of  art  forms  before  the  festival    Arc  built  the  festival  upon  a  solid  foundation,  and  it  was  important  to  the  groups  that  their  work  was  promoted  and  celebrated.    

A  significant  number  of  the  groups  and  individuals  participating  had  long-­‐term  health  problems  or  disabilities  and  the  festival  was  a  chance  to  celebrate  their  creativity  and  achievements.  It  was  also  important  in  improving  self-­‐confidence.  

It  offered  the  chance  to  learn  what  others  in  the  community  were  doing,  to  be  creative,  to  try  out  different  things,  celebrate  local  talent  and  be  part  of  an  inspired  and  enthusiastic  community.  It  made  an  important  social  impact  in  terms  of  raising  the  profile  of  Brinnington  in  a  positive  way  and  encouraging  community  inclusion  by  bringing  groups  together.  

The  festival  involved  a  significant  number  of  volunteering  hours  and  it  is  important  to  acknowledge  the  value  of  this  contribution,  as  without  the  volunteers  the  festival  would  not  have  happened  on  the  same  scale  or  been  the  success  that  it  was.  

The  festival  met  its  headline  objectives,  which  were  firmly  based  within  the  outcomes  framework  of  the  Greater  Manchester  Arts  Vision.    

In  summary,  in  delivering  the  festival  a  strong  partnership  has  been  forged  between  Arc,  the  local  community,  the  artists,  Neighbourhood  management  and  Lets  Go  Global.  This  will  help  to  build  the  confidence  and  capacity  to  move  forward  with  further  collaborative  projects  in  the  future.    

 

 

32    

Recommendations  The  key  strengths  behind  the  success  of  the  Brinnington  Arts  Festival  were  the  partnership  working,  the  valuable  contribution  of  the  community  and  the  pivotal  role  that  Arc  played  in  project  managing  and  supporting  the  festival.  With  any  project  it  is  important  to  acknowledge  the  lessons  that  can  be  learned,  and  that  is  why  significant  effort  was  put  in  to  ensuring  open  channels  for  feedback  right  from  the  beginning  of  the  festival  organisation,  so  that  we  can  use  the  knowledge  gained  to  improve  future  work.  The  following  recommendations  are  put  forward  as  ideas  for  the  legacy  of  the  first  Brinnington  Arts  Festival.  They  are  drawn  from  the  feedback  and  will  require  further  work  to  decide  how  they  are  taken  forward.  

1. It  is  clear  that  there  is  enthusiasm  for  another  festival.  On  the  whole,  groups  were  energised  and  galvanised  by  the  opportunities  offered  by  the  festival,  and  this  was  most  evident  where  there  was  a  feeling  of  local  ownership  and  people  felt  part  of  the  organisation  of  something  important  to  their  community.  If  another  festival  is  held,  this  model  of  local  ownership  and  organisation  should  be  central.  

 

  2. There  were  lots  of  ideas  for  how  the  festival  could  evolve  in  Brinnington    for  example,  making  the  festival  bigger,  making  use  of  more  community  buildings,  the  greenspace,  having  more  of  a  music  focus.  Some  of  the  groups  were  also  interested  in  working  in  other  locations  and  there  was  a  suggestion  that  some  of  the  festival  could  be  held  in  the  centre  of  Stockport.  Consideration  should  be  given  to  expanding  the  model  to  other  areas,  or  covering  a  larger  geographical  area  to  encourage  more  exposure.  

 3. Greater  networking  between  groups  should  be  one  key  output  of  the  

festival,  with  consideration  given  to  the  further  role  of  Arc  as  a  resource  for  groups.  Having  a  big  networking  event  /  workshop  for  all  of  the  groups  to  come  together  was  suggested  by  one  participant,  and  is  something  already  being  planned  by  Arc.  This  would  encourage  closer  working  between  groups,  sharing  experiences,  contacts,  skills,  perhaps  even  providing  some  peer  mentoring  and  support.  It  would  also  provide  a  basis  for  planning  future  festivals,  and  could  be  a  way  of  facilitating  a  greater  role  for  the  community  in  organising  festivals  and  events  in  the  future.    

  4. It  was  evident  from  participants  that  one  of  the  most  important  outcomes  of  the  festival  should  be  to  raise  the  profile  of  Brinnington  in  a  positive  way.  One  way  of  furthering  this  could  be  to  stage  an  exhibition  of  the  festival  (photographs,  key  pieces)  later  on  in  the  year  in  other  locations  around  Stockport.  The  Arc  Community  Gallery  would  be  an  obvious  choice  and  consideration  should  be  given  to  other  venues  in  a  more  central  Stockport  location.  The  Arc  Community  Gallery  could  also  offer  an  opportunity  for  some  of  the  groups  to  exhibit  their  work  in  a  more  focused  way.  

 

5. There  were  a  few  quality  arts  projects  that  were  undertaken  in  Brinnington  in  2012  which  the  exhibitions  did  not  really  do  justice  to,  probably  due  to  the  fact  that  the  exhibition  material  was  gathered  in  retrospect.  If  it  was  known  to  the  community  groups  that  there  was  going  to  be  another  festival,  this  would  give  a  greater  lead-­‐in  time  to  plan  their  contribution,  and  more  specifically,  to  plan  in  advance  about  how  they  could  communicate  about  their  arts  projects.  

  6. A  key  resource  which  needs  further  utilisation  is  the  dedicated  art  space  at  First  House.  This  is  a  shared  space  and  needs  some  clear  leadership,  and  policies  and  procedures  in  place  that  include  a  schedule  for  use,  storage,  security  and  charging.  The  facility  can  then  be  promoted  for  more  groups  to  use  for  creative  activities.  The  opportunities  for  animating  the  other  public  parts  of  First  House  (particularly  the  cafe)  should  also  be  explored  with  Neighbourhood  Management,  including  any  potential  for  enterprise.  

 

 

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7. The  performing  arts  could  be  a  really  powerful  way  of  engaging  more  young  people  in  Brinnington.  It  would  be  good  to  capture  the  momentum  of  the  NK  Theatre  involvement  and  explore  how  this  could  be  continued  in  the  area.    

  8. hy  project  was  also  very  successful    in  engaging  young  people  in  Brinnington  and  it  would  also  be  good  to  

to  use  the  art  room  at  First  House.    

9.  market  stall  and  the  further  potential  of  this  enterprise  opportunity    should  be  explored.  This  could  include  working  with  Stockport  College    arts  students  to  work  up  a  permanent  brand  that  could  be  used  by  all  

wider  appeal,  and  what  the  physical  and  online  opportunities  for  retail  are.    

  10. Another  possibility  for  exploring  the  usage  of  space  at  First  House  could  be  a  partnering  arrangement  with  Stockport  Homes.  They  are  likely  to  develop  an  inter-­‐generational  project  this  year  with  new  and  existing  groups  in  the  community  around  skills  swapping,  and  where  these  are  art  /  craft  based  there  are  links  that  could  be  made  with  the  participants  of  the  festival.    

 

11. The  Lantern  Parade  was  the  pivotal  event  of  the  festival  and  although  it  has  been  running  for  fifteen  years,  serious  consideration  has  to  be  given  to  its  sustainability.  Community  burn-­‐out  is  a  very  significant  risk  attached  to  this  event,  and  as  the  festival  was  so  well  supported  by  volunteers,  its  success  cannot  be  guaranteed  if  key  volunteers  are  over-­‐burdened.  

       Produced  by:  

  12. It  was  difficult  to  monitor  the  numbers  of  people  who  actually  visited  the  library  with  the  intention  of  visiting  the  festival  exhibition,  and  some  of  the  

location  to  have  an  exhibition.  Given  the  location  of  Brinnington  itself,  if  this  exhibition  is  repeated  in  future  it  might  be  beneficial  to  look  at  transport  to  the  site  from  other  areas.  Partnering  with  other  voluntary  organisations  who  could  offer  free  or  cheap  transport  and  targeting  publicity  and  dedicated  trips  out  to  groups  from  other  areas  of  Stockport  could  be  key  to  increasing  audience  attendance.