The Faceless Company will work with groups of people who live, work in and visit Agbrigg & Belle Vue, to gather their stories about the area for a special book and exhibition called Stories of Movement, Migration and Home. They will work with members of the community to interpret those stories by creating art work for the exhibition and illustrations for the book of their stories.

The company is currently seeking people who are interested sharing their memories of Agbrigg & Belle Vue, along with any photographs which bring those memories to life. The Faceless Company is also looking for volunteers who may wish to learn more about reminiscence and oral history. As part of the project volunteers will have the opportunity to take part in training from the Oral History Society.

Numbers are limited, but there is some space remaining. If you would like to take part, please contact Charlie Wells at arts@facelessco.com or on 01924 335 985.

During workshops, participants will be asked to express their views about the place they live or work, about how they came to be there and why they choose to live or work there? They will also be able to take part in creative workshops working with textiles and learning how to interpret their heritage for others.

The project will culminate in two exhibitions in Wakefield venues from January - March 2011. There will also be an opportunity for schools creative heritage workshops during the exhibitions led by volunteers and Faceless Company workers. 

Faceless Company’s Community Engagement Manager, Charlie Wells, said: “This project is a fantastic addition to Faceless’ work in the Wakefield district giving people from Agbrigg & Belle Vue the chance to tell their stories and to experience and preserve the heritage of such a rich and diverse area of Wakefield.” 

Head of HLF, Yorkshire and the Humber, Fiona Spiers said: “This project will offer the people of Agbrigg and Belle Vue an amazing opportunity to tell their stories and bring the heritage of their local area to life. We are committed to funding projects that every community can take pride in and learn about their local heritage.”

Notes to editors

Founded in 1990, Faceless is a professional arts organisation working to create access to the arts for all through outdoor performance and participatory arts projects. Faceless has an excellent reputation for its wide range of interactive performances and excellent workshops. The company’s highly visual and often non verbal style aims to reach people of all ages regardless of culture, language or disability. Faceless’ skilled team of community artists deliver an extensive interdisciplinary participatory arts programme with all ages and abilities.

Using money raised through the National Lottery, since 1994 the Heritage Lottery Fund has not only revitalised hundreds of museums, parks, historic buildings, landscapes and wildlife sites, but has also given new meaning to heritage itself. People from every walk of life are now involved with the heritage that inspires them, making choices about what they want to keep and share from the past, for future generations. HLF has supported more than 33,900 projects, allocating over £4.4billion across the UK, including £351million to 2,890 projects across the Yorkshire and the Humber region alone.

Further information

Charlie Wells, Faceless Company, Trinity Business Park, Wakefield, WF2 8EE.  Contact: 01924 335 985 or charlie@facelessco.com  

Faceless Company website.