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Being Here
 
Being Here was a 3 year programme of social and cultural regeneration in Southend-on-Sea, part of a regional programme called Arts Generate and keenly supported by two major stakeholders: Southend Borough Council and Arts Council England East. The project was run by Project Manager Heather Stradling and managed by Momentum Arts.
Over a thousand participants took part in Being Here between 2002 and 2006. Whilst Southend-on-Sea is best known as a seaside resort, this was a project for the young people who live across the road from the beach but cannot afford to visit the funfair.
The overall aims were to offer creative opportunities to an increasing number of young people living in Southend, who had been identified as either excluded, at risk of exclusion and from hard to reach groups and communities.
Exploring the themes of living in Southend and attitudes to issues such as drug abuse, hate crime, homelessness and so on, young people created and presented a wide range of high-quality artworks, performances and sharings, ranging from informal barbecues to exhibitions alongside the main show in Focal Point Gallery, and all day long events at the Westcliff Palace Theatre and South East Essex College’s Atrium and other spaces.
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Nancy Hogg, 14/10/2010 |
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