Projects

Pyramid and Parr Hall runs a wide range of exciting courses, classes, performances, exhibitions and hands-on community development projects. The Arts Development Team, made up of music, dance, visual arts, drama, resource and community development experts, is here to help you get creatively involved and to offer local budding artists support. 

Each individual officer is encouraged to bring their own particular flavour to their work, to share ideas and learn from each other.  

What we can offer 

• Support and enable local professional, amateur and visiting artists to work within the local community and further afield. 
• Provide information, advice, advocacy for new and emerging artists and arts organisations who work/live within the borough of Warrington. 
• Encourage local people to be involved in arts activities - as audience or participants.  
• Offer access to high quality arts events to all sections of the community. 
• Promote enjoyment of the arts for all ages, and develop new audiences, through education - including artists working in schools, residential homes, day centres and with community groups. 
• Offer an extensive range of continuous professional development for teachers and freelance artists i.e. first aid and child protection 
• Provide expertise on all aspects of arts development, e.g. funding and marketing advice to local groups. 
• Actively seek opportunities for integration of the arts with health programmes, tourism and education, working in partnership with local authorities, strategic partnerships, tourism organisations, NHS and the voluntary sector. 
• Working in partnership with local community groups to deliver innovative arts projects. 
• Market and promote arts activities across the borough through local press, Tourist Information Centres, notice boards, and our weekly e-newsletter. 
• Offer a targeted grant-giving scheme to local community groups and individuals, for events, exhibitions and a variety of different arts projects in the community of Warrington. 
• Provide and maintain a database of professional artists and craft makers across Warrington        

Examples of recent projects 

Mosslands
Apr 05 - Mar 06
We are currently working in conjunction with Mosslands Sheltered housing to deliver an inter-generational reminiscence project, which will result in a performance by Pyramid's Youth theatre in March 06.

James Lee House - Journeys Exhibition
22 July - 24 August
The JLH group have been working Spanish artists both here in Warrington and in Barcelona on their new exhibition, this work is supported by Warrington Collegiate Institute and funded through Arts Council England North West, Warrington Drug Action Team, Warrington Borough Council and Learning & Skills Council.

Incubation House

Incubation House is a package of support for 8 new and emerging artists that includes rehearsal/studio space, mentoring, training package, workshop and community experience and shadowing opportunities. This will run from June – December. Watch this space for opportunities to view the work in progress and chat to the artists. There will also be an exhibition of work produced by this talented bunch early next year. 

The Artists 

• Karen Caley Illustration
• Joanne Cogan Design and Advertising
• Gina Cottam Jewellery Designer/Maker (Plastic)
• Lily Dettmer Dance Choreography
• Lyn Morris Fine Art (Painting)
• Frances Tither & Rachael Priest Theatre
• Daniel Whitehouse Live art/performance           

Dance Company in Residence

Collision is Pyramid’s first company to be in residence from May 05-September 06. Whilst in residence Lisi Perry, the Artistic Director of the company will create and premiere a new piece of work, ‘Lyrics’ in September 06. Throughout this period there will be a number of opportunities to be involved and find out more about the company including; open classes, auditions, research and development sharings throughout the North West, open rehearsals, schools projects and workshops.

Safe Housing 

The Arts Development team is committed to supporting artists and companies and are constantly researching and reviewing creative work. Through this we discover fresh talent and aim to attract new artists and consequently a new audience to Pyramid. We have secured funding to ‘safe house’ some professional touring companies. This allows:

• Greater freedom in programming
• Greater creativity / innovation within artists work
• More culturally diverse work
• More North West based artists/companies   

The commission 

We want to commission local, national and international artists over the next few years to develop site specific installations that will both challenge the perception of art in Warrington and animate a fantastic space. To kick this off we are commissioning a piece of public art to celebrate the contribution that Pete McCarthy gave to Warrington, which will be sited at Pyramid. Travel Writer and comedian, the late Pete McCarthy, had been one of Pyramid's most pro-active patrons. Pete, who was married with three children, died in October 2004. He was a committed supporter of the arts in Warrington and made regular contributions for which those he worked with are very grateful. In conjunction with the Warrington Guardian we are aiming to raise more funds to support this memorial.

Interested in getting your project off the ground?

Small grants are available for groups and individuals that want to develop arts projects in their community. This fund is open to all. This year the focus for Arts Grants will be Young People, Arts and Health, Widening Participation for Older People and the Big Idea. If you want more information about how your group could apply, please contact Clare Grundy. 

Advice and Support

For general information please call a member of the team or contact the box office.

The Arts Development work at Pyramid is supported by a strong network of Friends of Pyramid, numerous corporate supporters, local promoters and members of a variety of local community groups. 

For further details of any of these projects, contact Gemma Weedon or Kirsty Bell on 01925 442345.