Name: Heart of Glass
Price range: $

Project Parr is a new artistic collective run by a group of young people from Broad Oak Community Primary School with support from Andy Field & Beckie Darlington and Heart of Glass. Running for three years from 2024-2027, the aim of the collective is to make art for, with and about the people of Parr in St Helens.

In its first year the collective made a new documentary film, The Beautiful Things About, which told the story of Parr through the children’s own words and pictures alongside interviews they conducted with people from across the community.

Watch the film

For their second year project the collective will write and publish a book exploring some of their hopes for the future of Parr through a series of ‘fantasy interventions’ – descriptions in the children’s own words of a variety of projects they wish to make happen in the area, from parades, parties and feasts to new museums and exhibitions. Accompanying these proposals will be transcripts of interviews that the children will conduct with local changemakers to learn more about what’s required for ordinary people to be able to make change in their own communities. The book will also feature the children’s own photography and illustrations they will commission from a local illustrator.

The finished book will be launched at an event hosted by the collective and then distributed to people across Parr, with an opportunity for people to respond with thoughts on their favourite of the collective’s proposed ideas, with the hope that one of them might one day be made into a reality.

Photograph of a group of children in red school uniforms, seated around a man wearing an orange hi-vis vest, The children are interviewing him and filming with a go pro camera — Workshop at Broad Oak School, 2024. Photo by Jazamin Sinclair

Photograph of a group of children in red school uniforms, using a camera and other recording equipment. They are being helped by a woman with a blonde bob, glasses and lilac cardigan — Workshop at Broad Oak School, 2024. Photo by Jazamin Sinclair

Photograph of a schoolgirl holding a camera, aimed at someone out of shot. In the background a woman with a blonde bob, glasses and lilac cardigan smiles — Workshop at Broad Oak School, 2024. Photo by Jazamin Sinclair

Photograph of a group of children in red school uniforms, standing in front of a colourful mural. They are all smiling. — Children from Broad Oak Primary School. Photo by Andy Field

With special thanks for participation in the film

Cath Brooks (Health Promotion Officer, Torus Foundation), Nicola Griffiths (Volunteer Coordinator, St Helens Health and Wellbeing Services), Stewart Brown (former Bold Colliery Miner), Councillor Bisi Osundeko (Elected Labour Councillor for Parr ward, St Helens), Miss Bancroft, Geoff Newton (AtoB Taxis), Ervis Kalemi (The Master Fryer Fish Bar), Bill, Dolly, Joe and staff at Madison Court Care Home, the team at Save Express Convenience Store, Parr Sports and Community Centre and Derbyshire Hill Family Centre, and to all of the staff at Broad Oak Community Primary School.

Thanks also to Sue and John Darlington, Mike Myshko, Tamsin Curry, Gary Conley and Jim Housley (Northwest Miners Heritage Association).

Awards

On 10th July 2025, The Beautiful Things About was awarded the Digital Art Award (Primary School Aged Children Category) at the St Helens LCEP - Youth Open Art Competition. We're extremely proud of our young collaborators for their win!