Parkside Voice
Happen - Parkside Estate, Houghton Regis
Working with local young people to build community spirit through creativity
Like most housing estates, Parkside suffers from anti-social behaviour issues, and has high levels of petty crime, such as graffiti and vandalism. Much of this is perpetrated by bored teenagers, who feel both a disassociation from the community in which they live, and a lack of “ownership” of their environment.
HAPPEN worked with the local residents association to see whether a creative approach might help build community spirit. The project had a number of inter-related aims: to develop a sense of ownership amongst young people, to re-integrate teenagers back into the community and to develop the young peoples' self-esteem.
One outcome was to produce a community-led surface decoration treatment for the walls of a popular public house, in the Parkside Estate, Houghton Regis. The lead artist was Zena Jay-Ellis, who worked with groups of teenagers on the estate during half-term week (29 May – 2 June 2006) to design and produce a piece of art that ultimately was mounted on boards and then attached to the pub's perimeter walls.
HAPPEN's partner organisation was Parkside Voice, the tenants and residents association of the estate and the concept has been backed by South Beds District Council and mainly funded by a grant from the Local Network Fund.
As well as those involved in the design and execution of the finished artwork, other young people had access to the project via three workshops run by the artist. The artwork produced by these young people was exhibited during the celebratory launch event.
The finished piece was unveiled at a public ceremony on Saturday 3 June 2006, and will remain on the walls for at least twelve months.
Parent Project:
ProjectsMore information
Documents
Art forms
- Environmental art
Themes
- Urban communities
Interventions
- Artists' residencies
Target groups
- Secondary school age (11-16)
Venue
- Bedfordshire