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After ten years working across St Helens and Knowsley, I’ve seen how creativity can help people feel part of something, feel proud of where they live and feel seen.
I didn’t plan to work in community arts. I grew up locally and studied painting at St Helens College. Back then, I’d never heard of socially engaged art. When I started at Heart of Glass, I realised the power of connection and making art with people.
Working in libraries, women’s groups, youth projects and community centres pulled me in. Meeting new groups to work with, trying something new together. Our communities are full of people doing amazing work. Community leaders, kind neighbours, partner organisations and local artists – it’s a privilege to be part of these networks.
Communities at the centre
Co-creation gets talked about a lot. For me it’s simple – communities at the centre. Artists bring the expertise and imagination that allows everyone involved to contribute and feel seen. Alongside the artist, you have producers , community organisations and residents – bringing projects to life, shaped by everyone’s insight, relationships and lived experience .
One example was a street art programme across St Helens and Knowsley with older residents, school groups, people in recovery, artists, young people in the restorative justice system. At first, some weren’t sure about us. But over time, we built trust.
People came with ideas, got involved with making the work, shared stories that informed the content. That’s when it stopped being a project and became part of the place. People saw themselves in the murals – their street, their families, the nature in the estate.
It’s about people shaping the pace, the tone, the direction. You have to listen – properly listen, which means holding space for whatever people bring: nerves, humour, grief, exhaustion. People carry their lives with them.
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