An art project on a disused building has been revealed with hopes to boost the local economy in a County Durham Town.
A new community art project, at the front of the disused board school on Stanley Front Street has been installed as plans for the site develop.
The Stanley community art project has been funded by Karbon Homes as part of a wider goal to help boost the local economy by regenerating the high street.
The artwork of Stanley school pupils is hanging proud over the windows and doors of the Stanley Board School, to help bring vibrancy to the disused building and boost community pride in the town’s high street.
The exhibition, delivered by County Durham based participatory arts organisation The Forge and funded by local housing association Karbon Homes, is named ‘a child’s eye view of home’ and consists of photography from pupils at both Annfield Plain Junior School and St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School.
The showcase is part of a larger project, as Karbon Homes launch a community consultation to help shape the future plans for the disused board school site.
Victoria Keen, Place Partnership Strategic Lead, said: “It’s fantastic to see this project completed and the artwork up on the front of the Board School. It’s transformed the exterior of the building and brought some vibrancy to the high street, and it’s lovely to see the depictions of what home means to the youngest in our community.
“The Board School site is prominent on the high street and it's time for a change. The installation of the exhibition is the beginning of making change for the better in the town, and we hope our longer-term plans for the redevelopment of the building will be the start of a revival of Front Street.”
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To create the artwork, the children worked with photographer Madeleine Waller using the theme of home, alongside completing a series of writing workshops with Dr Bob Beagrie, a professional poet and creative writing tutor.
Tony Harrington, Executive Director of The Forge, said: “By capturing these quiet, everyday moments – spent with hobbies, toys and teddies, or with families, siblings and pets - the children help us to understand what makes a home a home.”
“Everyone involved in the project has remarked on the quality of the children’s work and the power of their writing and still images. It’s great to know that we are nurturing so many talented young poets and photographers in our Stanley schools.”
Next, Karbon is calling on residents and the town’s key stakeholders, organisations and businesses to help shape the plans for the Board School site.
Some of the potential options include community/enterprise spaces, a youth hub, a community café and affordable housing.
The artwork is on display on the outside of the boarding school, which Karbon purchased in 2023.
To find out more visit stanley.placechangers.co.uk/campaign/383/overview.
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