Heart of Glass / A Modest Proposal
IN 2027 THROUGH THE PIONEERING HEART OF GLASS PROGRAMME, ST HELENS HAS BECOME FIRMLY ESTABLISHED AS A NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNISED CENTRE FOR SOCIALLY ENGAGED ARTISTIC PRACTICE.
It is a place where internationally renowned artists emerge from and go to, to develop their ideas, explore new ways of working and to prototype and experiment with their latest works. It is the destination of choice for new arts graduates and emerging artists. During the last ten years it has grown as an open and inclusive arts ‘ecology’ where the artistic and creative contributions of artists, individuals and communities are all recognised and valued, and where evidence of their contribution to St Helens’ development as a place is tangibly engrained in its identity, psychology and physical fabric.
Once a centre for industry and industrial innovation, the borough of St Helens is experiencing the second boom in its near 160-year history, this time fuelled by its growing reputation as an artistic centre and cultural destination. It hosts a vital and vibrant arts sector that embraces a wide range of art forms, diverse artists and exciting artistic practices. Twice a year, in spring and autumn, the town is transformed into a living artwork through the TakeOver festival, which continues to attract significant audiences and acclaim for its artistic excellence.
The success of the TakeOver festival and the wider Heart of Glass programme is driven by the people and communities of St Helens. To their credit, the town now ranks as one of the most culturally engaged places in the UK. Various communities of interest and place co-design and co-produce work with a diverse range of artists in residence, and are also central to the authorship of a series of themed, large-scale collaborative commissions.
Heart of Glass continues to invest in the development of local and emerging artists, and to support professional development programmes. This includes its celebrated workshops and masterclasses, and the Masters and PhD programmes offered through the regional The Northern Faculty of Social Arts Practice. Its annual WithForAbout conference continues to be a powerful platform for thought leadership and sharing learning and best practice, with further dissemination achieved through its popular publications and successful touring programme.
The project is supported by strong partnerships and networks, from its Steering Group and Board to partnerships with regional, national and international festivals, alongside collaborations with artists and exchange programmes across the world. Its strong relationships with strategic bodies and decision-makers mean that it regularly contributes to policy and thinking around socially engaged art, cultural democracy, placemaking and citizenship. Its innovative and inclusive evaluation model is recognised as the blueprint for non-venue based arts organisations, and its strategically sound, but flexible, agile and dynamic delivery model has been replicated across the country.
This is our St Helens in 2027. This is its Heart of Glass.
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