Praise for LOVE Local Arts from celebrity Hearts for the Arts Judges
Date Created: 9th Mar 2022
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Earlier this year, we were very excited to hear that Arun District Council and Littlehampton Town Council had been shortlisted for the Best Arts Project Award in the Hearts for the Arts Award 2022 for LOVE Local Arts.
Part of our Arun Inspires programme, bringing arts and cultural opportunities to the children and young people of Arun, the Love Local Arts project took place in Littlehampton across summer 2021. As part of a series of surprising Saturday’s aimed at revitalising the town’s High Street, we produced a mixed programme of family-friendly arts events with work by and for local young people, including a photography competition, a battle acted out by Chichester Festival Youth Theatre and a spray art workshop.
Hearts for the Arts is an award by National Campaign for the Arts celebrating the creative efforts local authorities who carry out extraordinary work for the arts in difficult circumstances, and encouraging others to prioritise arts and culture in their areas.
Although we didn’t win, we received some great comments from the judges – and it was fantastic to see how much support there is for regeneration projects in local communities!
Deborah Meaden, Businesswoman and TV Dragon:
What a Fantastic idea! High Streets have been at the heart of the community and this project set out to explore how they can be again, but more than that, in an area starved of funding for the Arts, it has shown how creativity and re-imagining can cut across all sectors and all generations. I really love the clear appreciation of the work of the young across the generations. And I love that they used the Heart of the Town for their Canvas. Bravo!!
Jack Thorne, Screenwriter and Playwright:
I think we’ve all seen those town centres that look broken by economics. How amazing to reclaim these spaces and declare them young. A beautiful project.
Samuel West, Actor and Director, NCA Trustee:
In the last two years, the problems with shopping becoming our national sport have never been clearer. LOVE Local Arts rejuvenates a tired High Street, reminds us that there are other things to do than shop, gives children the run of spaces that had not welcomed them before and even encourages people to start buying things again. Result!
LOVE Local is part of an ongoing programme of work in Littlehampton as part of Arun Inspires, a 3-year cultural development programme in the District of Arun.
This Easter, we’ll be returning to Littlehampton High Street with our Easter Eggstravaganza Egg Trail, created in collaboration with local artists and schools. Find out more here
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