Over the past few years, organisations in Oldham have been working together to reduce deprivation and improve the quality of life for residents. The Art for All initiative recognises the impact of cultural activities, as well as their potential for bringing together people from different communities, generations and ethnic groups.
The borough of Oldham faces a number of challenges, including a diverse, multi-ethnic community, pockets of deprivation and a restructuring economy. The Oldham Partnership established a Local Area Agreement with Central Government, detailing the area’s strategic priorities, solutions and targets for a three-year period.
Oldham’s Local Area Agreement used the area’s diverse ethnic mix and strong cultural heritage to form a strategy of strengthening community cohesion through participation in the arts. Art for All aims to reach all sections of the community, building understanding between people from different backgrounds and establishing a sense of local pride and identity. The flagship Festival of Diversity features a wide range of creative and fun events, including music, dance and theatre workshops and performances.
Within the Local Area Agreement, Art for All is responsible for increasing the number of adults participating in the visual and performing arts by more than 14,000 people over three years; and the number of adults from black and minority ethnic backgrounds by more than 2,000 over the same period. The first year of the initiative saw more than 10,000 additional adults taking part in these activities (representing 75 per cent of the overall target), 2,774 of whom were from black and minority ethnic backgrounds (37 per cent of the three-year target). Oldham Partnership is well on track to meet the overall target and qualify for a reward grant of more than £600,000.
Topics associated with this project
Cohesion, Economy, Local government, Training