‘Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, we’re delighted to support this project to bring people of all ages and backgrounds together to celebrate the fascinating history, diverse heritage and exciting future of their neighbourhood.’
Nerys Watts, Head of HLF South West.
PECo Theatre has received £9,900 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for an exciting new arts and heritage project, Redclife Present Perfect: Histories of Now that will take place in Bristol’s Redcliffe neighbourhood from November 2017 to June 2018.
Made possible by money raised by National Lottery players, the project will work in association with Redcliffe residents and local community organisations to plan and deliver a creative programme unearthing and sharing local histories, memories and stories of Redcliffe now – in living memory, and interpreting these stories through theatre and installation.
This exciting programme of Redcliffe Present Perfect activities includes:
- Story Collecting Project – residents and others story collecting, collation and on-line sharing
- Community Theatre Collective – residents and others interpreting the local histories and stories into a first draft community play
- Creative Workshops – local schools and other groups story sharing, shaping and making workshops, creating moments of theatre and multi-media installation
- Community Celebration that brings everyone together to share the work created and celebrate the project’s achievements
‘We are absolutely delighted to have received this National Lottery grant. It will enable us to engage in really creative and interesting ways with the Redcliffe community and bring to light the stories of this fascinating and diverse area, as it stands today.’
Rachel Aspinwall, Artistic Director, PECo Theatre.
Taking place over a period of 7 months the project will begin with PECo theatre working with organisations from the community, including Redcliffe Care, Redcliffe Residents Action Group, Faith Space Community Centre, Bristol City Council Community learning team and the Redcliffe Seniors Community Theatre group, to develop, programme and promote the story collecting and creative workshops. The project will also have at its heart an elders mentoring scheme, supported older people in leading on the story collecting, gaining new IT skills linked to sharing the stories on line and who will be at the heart of ideas and script development for the community play.
‘Now that PECo have secured this National Lottery funding, it is time to collect the stories that will reveal the past, the present and maybe influence the future. Who said we could not travel in time? Who said we cannot change the future? History, past, present and future… Only time will tell!’
The Redcliffe Residents Action Group (RRAG).
Redcliffe is a truly unique neighbourhood at the heart of Bristol city centre, situated on an island and sliced in half by an oversized dual carriageway that separates its communities and physical spaces and marks the border between north and south Bristol. It is also home of some of the city’s most significant heritage and history including the magnificent St Mary Redcliffe church.
‘Redcliffe care is delighted to be a partner supporting the Redcliffe Present Perfect project. PECo’s high quality creative input will enable a wide diversity of local residents to find their voices with confidence, knowing that their stories and the stories of their neighbours are an important part of Redcliffe history and of Redcliffe’s future.’
The Rev’d Kat Campion-Spall, Associate Vicar, St Mary Redcliffe Church and Redcliffe care
The marked contrasts and boundaries of its built environment are echoed by the diversity and variety of people living in Redcliffe today, many of whom are separated by the less tangible borders and barriers of culture, faith or demographic. Redcliffe Present Perfect will cross these borders and engage people from all walks of Redcliffe life, to make visible and celebrate the shared heritage of this complex and diverse neighbourhood.
‘Community Learning works with some of the most marginalised communities in Bristol to help them progress and achieve their goals through accessing learning opportunities. We welcome the chance to be involved and involve groups in Redcliffe in this exciting and creative project. It is their chance to tell their stories, learn about other people and feel involved and valued in their own community.’
Lucy Fieldhouse, Development Worker, Community Learning South, Bristol City Council.
The Heritage Lottery Fund
Thanks to National Lottery players, HLF invest money to help people across the UK explore, enjoy and protect the heritage they care about – from the archaeology under our feet to the historic parks and buildings we love, from precious memories and collections to rare wildlife. www.hlf.org.uk.
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