OUR IMPACT: ENGAGING NEIGHBOURHOODS
Our projects have engaged individuals from all backgrounds - refugees, young people, isolated adults, and families - using the arts to strengthen bonds, creating lasting relationships and boosting self-confidence.
Over the past four year we've collaborated with these nine Engaging Neighbourhoods groups:
Through mentorship, hands-on artistic experiences, and exhibitions, we’ve helped people of all ages discover their creative potential, tackle social isolation, and feel more connected to their communities.
Our UNHIDDEN exhibition in 2021, featuring work from St Augustine’s Centre, Rastrick High School students and Todmorden Children’s Centre Friends Group, received universally positive feedback, with over 300 visitors attending. Participants felt a strong sense of pride and belonging, with many sharing their excitement about being part of something so meaningful.
“This came at a good time—because of lockdown, it has kept my mind occupied and helped me be happy.”
Participant, St Augustine's Centre
“What a wonderful project to be part of. All 8 mothers attended each week and engaged so much in the creative aspect. Feedback from the group shows the amount of positive benefits and how much the creative project has ignited self-belief, self-worth, and self-care. The project has helped form friendships, supported mental health, and tackled isolation.”
Rebecca Harrison, Perinatal Mental Health Family Outreach Worker
“I love the idea of combining motherhood and creativity.”
Participant, Friends Group, Todmorden Children's Centre
Through projects like LANDMARKS in 2022 and OPEN SPACE 70 in 2023, we’ve encouraged participants to share their unique stories through photography, creative writing, ceramics, and sculpture.
“I felt excited and eager — not only to learn new skills but also to meet people. I got the chance to visit new places and found awesome friends from different cultures. I would never have acquired this love and value for art without this course.”
Participant, St Augustine’s Centre
ENCOURAGING ENVIRONMENTAL CONNECTIONS
Many of our projects have focused on nature and the environment, using creative activities to foster a deeper appreciation for local landscapes.
“If it wasn’t for this project, I would not have known about the woods (Ogden Water). Photography has given me confidence to explore new places.”
Participant, St Augustine’s Centre
Through our ‘THE MAN WHO PLANTED TREES’ project in 2024, 79% of participants felt more connected to nature, and 77% felt more confident in their creativity after taking part.
SUPPORTING YOUNG PEOPLE'S CREATIVE EXPRESSION
Our workshops with Rastrick High School, Healthy Minds Calderdale, and Calderdale Young Carers have empowered young people to express themselves through innovative artistic projects. These projects have sparked creativity, with students producing soundscapes, films, and installations that celebrate the natural world.
“I've really enjoyed this. I've never really ridden on the road before. I liked taking photos, looking for deer and snails, and imagining the future.”
Aimee, Time Out Healthy Minds participant
“It’s really cool to learn about different sounds and how they fit together. I’ve learned loads.”
Rastrick High School Student, Soundscape Project
Over the past four year we've collaborated with these nine Engaging Neighbourhoods groups:
- WOMENCENTRE
- CALDERDALE YOUNG CARERS SERVICE
- PROJECT COLT
- THE SPACE COMMUNITY HUB @ RASTRICK
- CALDERDALE COMMUNITY CARES
- TIME OUT (PART OF HEALTHY MINDS CALDERDALE)
- ST AUGUSTINE'S CENTRE
- HALIFAX OPPORTUNITIES TRUST - TODMORDEN CHILDREN CENTRE
- RASTRICK HIGH SCHOOL - YEAR 10 STUDENTS
Through mentorship, hands-on artistic experiences, and exhibitions, we’ve helped people of all ages discover their creative potential, tackle social isolation, and feel more connected to their communities.
Our UNHIDDEN exhibition in 2021, featuring work from St Augustine’s Centre, Rastrick High School students and Todmorden Children’s Centre Friends Group, received universally positive feedback, with over 300 visitors attending. Participants felt a strong sense of pride and belonging, with many sharing their excitement about being part of something so meaningful.
“This came at a good time—because of lockdown, it has kept my mind occupied and helped me be happy.”
Participant, St Augustine's Centre
“What a wonderful project to be part of. All 8 mothers attended each week and engaged so much in the creative aspect. Feedback from the group shows the amount of positive benefits and how much the creative project has ignited self-belief, self-worth, and self-care. The project has helped form friendships, supported mental health, and tackled isolation.”
Rebecca Harrison, Perinatal Mental Health Family Outreach Worker
“I love the idea of combining motherhood and creativity.”
Participant, Friends Group, Todmorden Children's Centre
Through projects like LANDMARKS in 2022 and OPEN SPACE 70 in 2023, we’ve encouraged participants to share their unique stories through photography, creative writing, ceramics, and sculpture.
“I felt excited and eager — not only to learn new skills but also to meet people. I got the chance to visit new places and found awesome friends from different cultures. I would never have acquired this love and value for art without this course.”
Participant, St Augustine’s Centre
ENCOURAGING ENVIRONMENTAL CONNECTIONS
Many of our projects have focused on nature and the environment, using creative activities to foster a deeper appreciation for local landscapes.
“If it wasn’t for this project, I would not have known about the woods (Ogden Water). Photography has given me confidence to explore new places.”
Participant, St Augustine’s Centre
Through our ‘THE MAN WHO PLANTED TREES’ project in 2024, 79% of participants felt more connected to nature, and 77% felt more confident in their creativity after taking part.
SUPPORTING YOUNG PEOPLE'S CREATIVE EXPRESSION
Our workshops with Rastrick High School, Healthy Minds Calderdale, and Calderdale Young Carers have empowered young people to express themselves through innovative artistic projects. These projects have sparked creativity, with students producing soundscapes, films, and installations that celebrate the natural world.
“I've really enjoyed this. I've never really ridden on the road before. I liked taking photos, looking for deer and snails, and imagining the future.”
Aimee, Time Out Healthy Minds participant
“It’s really cool to learn about different sounds and how they fit together. I’ve learned loads.”
Rastrick High School Student, Soundscape Project
OUR IMPACT: THE MAN WHO PLANTED TREES
In spring and summer of 2024, we delivered a professionally-led, community focussed arts project, called THE MAN WHO PLANTED TREES. This was an exciting multi-art form project for Culturedale 2024 - Calderdale's Year of Culture - which was inspired by the mid-century French allegorical short story of the same name, 'The Man Who Planted Trees', by Jean Giono.
Our community arts programme included a brand new PLAY based on the short story, guided nature walks, creative WORKSHOPS and COMMUNITY CREATIVE DAYS delivered across Calderdale, an artist's lecture event, two community volunteering days and three ART EXHIBITIONS, all delivered by our amazing team of ARTIST FACILITATORS.
Our community arts programme included a brand new PLAY based on the short story, guided nature walks, creative WORKSHOPS and COMMUNITY CREATIVE DAYS delivered across Calderdale, an artist's lecture event, two community volunteering days and three ART EXHIBITIONS, all delivered by our amazing team of ARTIST FACILITATORS.
COMMUNITY COLLABORATION
PROJECT STATISTICS
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & CREATIVITY
100% of people rated their guided walk as good or excellent.
79% of walkers felt more connected to nature after the experience.
99% of public workshop attendees rated the session positively, with 70% saying it was excellent.
77% of people saw an increase in their creative confidence.
6 young people learned puppeteering as part of our community cast.
5 young people and 8 adults performed as goats in our community chorus.
VOLUNTEERING & FREELANCERS
66 volunteers supported us across 12 varied roles.
At least 4 volunteers exhibited their art for the first time.
33 freelancers worked for Hebden Bridge Arts in different roles.
A total of 47 freelancers contributed to our creative projects.
WORKSHOPS, EVENTS & EXHBITIONS
940 people took part in 76 workshops and walks across 7 wards.
Our new play was watched by 730 people across Calderdale.
204 people explored creativity at our two community days.
SUPPORTING ARTISTS & CREATIVITY
76 artists submitted work to our open call for art.
More than 1/3 had never exhibited their art before.
90% of artists were working with Hebden Bridge Arts for the first time.
Our 3 open art exhibitions were visited by 8,650 people.
100% of people rated their guided walk as good or excellent.
79% of walkers felt more connected to nature after the experience.
99% of public workshop attendees rated the session positively, with 70% saying it was excellent.
77% of people saw an increase in their creative confidence.
6 young people learned puppeteering as part of our community cast.
5 young people and 8 adults performed as goats in our community chorus.
VOLUNTEERING & FREELANCERS
66 volunteers supported us across 12 varied roles.
At least 4 volunteers exhibited their art for the first time.
33 freelancers worked for Hebden Bridge Arts in different roles.
A total of 47 freelancers contributed to our creative projects.
WORKSHOPS, EVENTS & EXHBITIONS
940 people took part in 76 workshops and walks across 7 wards.
Our new play was watched by 730 people across Calderdale.
204 people explored creativity at our two community days.
SUPPORTING ARTISTS & CREATIVITY
76 artists submitted work to our open call for art.
More than 1/3 had never exhibited their art before.
90% of artists were working with Hebden Bridge Arts for the first time.
Our 3 open art exhibitions were visited by 8,650 people.
A film of the stage play, together with an education pack aimed at Key Stage 2 pupils (those aged 7-11 years old and in school years 3-6), has been created and shared with Calderdale's 84 primary schools, providing an opportunity to up to 10,000 junior aged pupils in Calderdale to engage with our stage adaptation of the book and the messages shared within our performance.
OUR IMPACT: OPEN SPACE 70
Our 2022-2023 project was OPEN SPACE 70. It culminated in a four day FESTIVAL and weekend ARTS TRAIL in July 2023. Here we share the scale and scope of the project and its impact for our community.
You can browse the festival PROGRAMME, check out our SHORT FILM and read a PDF of our our legacy book (download link below).
You can browse the festival PROGRAMME, check out our SHORT FILM and read a PDF of our our legacy book (download link below).
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