Volunteering at The Turnpike Gallery exposes me to a range of exhibitions throughout the year the gallery showcases. However, this exhibition impacted me differently as it allowed me to feel pride in my local area and discover untold stories. Following on from a community project last summer Creating Place II displays four new exhibits from Julie McKiernan, Corrie Shelley, Nicola Lafonseca, Helen Mather Anna FC Smith and Joe Kiney Whitmore.

What caught my attention about the exhibition is that all the art pieces have been made in collaboration with local people. Not only is the exhibition showcasing the wonderful work of our local artists, but the exhibition allows a connection to be established with the local community to create and share stories and as well to create new ones. Reflected in the exhibition as it shares stories of our area of the past, present and future.

Artworks are inspired by people and places within the local area, featuring the stained glass windows of Leigh Town Hall, the nature of Bickershaw Country Park, care homes in Leigh and the streets around the Turnpike Square.

I wanted to express that this work would not been possible if not for funding from Arts Council England, The National Lottery and Wigan Council. It reinforces the importance of investing in the arts to promote the well-being and vitality of the local community. Without this support, the local community would not have a voice and connection to its residents, and these stories would have been lost.

I can’t pick a favourite piece as all the art speaks for itself. From, Julie and Corrie’s collaboration with adult social care workers. To Joe Kiney’s self-portraits and portraits inspired by the infamous Druncoon Collection. You can see my wanna-be photography attached to the post but nothing can beat seeing the work yourself. It does leave you with not only questions of what we want our local area to be or stand for but also what we want our future to be without forgetting the past and our now.

The exhibition is open till March 30th at The Turnpike Gallery Located in Leigh Library. I promise you will not regret it.