An exhibition showcasing local women and the women who have inspired them is to launch at 1853 Studios & Gallery in Westwood on International Women’s Day on Friday, 8 March.

The exhibition is the result of a series of workshops throughout February, with women from a variety of backgrounds who attend the Chai Women’s Project in Werneth, Hope Restoration in Sholver & Moorside and SAWN in Chadderton.  The project has been led by Lingua Franca World Community CIC, who are based in 1853 studios, thanks to funding from Arts Council England.

Lingua Franca runs collaborative arts projects aimed at raising understanding across diverse communities.  Founder & Creative Director, Geli Berg, explains where the thinking of the project, which is called The Women Who Light Our Path came from.  I wanted to track if Oldham women had female role models and whether they differed with women from different cultural backgrounds.  It has been very enlightening.  Asian women, for example, were most likely to choose female members of their own families, such as their mothers or grandmothers, as their role models, whereas the British often chose members of the Royal Family.  There were also cross cultural role models, such as Oprah Winfrey.  Few women, as yet, have actually identified women from their own local community.

Those taking part will have the opportunity to be photographed by renowned Greater Manchester portrait photographer, Tanya Weeks. 

The exhibition is one of a series of exhibitions which are programmed and being curated for 1853 Studios & Gallery by the venue’s  Creative Director, Luca Shaw.  They are determined to establish 1853 Studios as a go to space for arts events. 

The launch of the exhibition will take place between 6-9 pm on Friday, 8 March and it will run until Saturday, 16 March 2024. 

For further information please email geli@worldcommunitycic.org,  

10,000 Steps Around the World – artist commissions

Lingua Franca World Community CIC and Northern Roots have partnered up to produce Ten Thousand Steps Around the World, a unique new festival celebrating the natural world and our relationship with it.

Ten micro commissions worth £500 each are available to artists and creators based in Oldham and Greater Manchester. We welcome artists working in all artforms and have a strong commitment to selecting projects which engage with and reflect the varied cultures of Oldham.

Ten Thousand Steps Around the World will be produced at Northern Roots, which is creating the UK’s largest urban farm and eco park on 160-acres of stunning green space, ten minutes from Oldham town centre. The festival will take place in June 2022.

Creative brief

The Ten Thousand Steps Around the World Festival has been devised as a walking and arts experience for audiences.

Audiences will be taken on a physical journey through the natural world of the Northern Roots site, encountering a range of diverse creative performances and installations as they go.

We would like artists to be inspired by and respond to the theme of:  Human: Nature

Process

We are inviting proposals in the first instance. The final selection of 10 artists will then be supported to make their projects a reality using their commission grant.

The applications will be assessed and selected by a panel of artists and producers from Northern Roots and Lingua Franca World Community CIC. The micro commissions have been funded by National Lottery project funding from Arts Council England.

Once decisions have been made, artists will be advanced funds on invoice and will be given six weeks to prepare their projects.

Applications Open: Tuesday 1st February 2022

Applications Close: Sunday 21^st February 2022

Artists Selected by: Monday, 28 February 2022

Eligibility

1. Applicants must be based in Greater Manchester
2. Applicants must hold a UK bank account
3. Applicants must be currently making some of their living from creativity

Please complete and return the form below to geli.berg@oldham.gov.uk by 5pm on Sunday 20th February 2022.  Please also use this email address if you have any questions about the commission or your application, or if you have any access requirements.

TTSATW Commission Application Form FEB 22

TTSATW Commissioning Brief FEB 22

Background information

Ten Thousand Steps Around the World was devised by Lingua Franca World Community CIC (LFWC) which successfully applied to Arts Council England for funding for the first stage of the project – creative commissions for 10 artists.

LFWC’s mission statement is to raise the visibility and income of professional creative freelancers from diverse communities through arts and heritage projects which elevate understanding and collaboration between communities.

https://worldcommunitycic.org

Northern Roots is working in partnership with LFWC to produce the festival, which will take place on the Northern Roots site in June 2022.  The charity is currently developing a number of arts and culture pilot projects, and a strategic vision for arts and culture at Northern Roots.

www.northern-roots.uk