Reflections on our recent community consultation event.
What does Farnworth mean to the people who live here? What would they like to see happening in their community? And how can creativity bring people together?
These were some of the questions we explored at our recent Farnworth Makes consultation event. Rather than arriving with a fixed programme of activities, we wanted to start by listening, gathering ideas and discovering what people would enjoy taking part in.
The conversations revealed a wonderful variety of interests, from traditional games and local history to painting, 3D printing, nature trails and an extraordinarily ambitious jigsaw puzzle!
A place full of stories
One recurring theme was a connection to Farnworth itself. People suggested exploring the history of Farnworth, Highfield and Moses Gate, looking at the area’s industrial and textile heritage, and celebrating familiar places and landmarks.
We’ve begun exploring this through a hand-annotated map of Farnworth and a prototype Risograph-printed zine, inviting people to share memories, identify meaningful places and contribute their own ideas.
We’re interested in how these contributions might develop into a collective portrait of Farnworth, created by the people who know it best.
Making, playing and meeting people
Not every suggestion involved art, and that was important.
Chess, table tennis, board games, language meet-ups and carrom, a traditional South Asian tabletop game, were all mentioned. There was even a suggestion to collaboratively complete a 42,000-piece world landmarks jigsaw and display it locally!
These ideas reminded us that bringing people together doesn’t always require an elaborate programme. Sometimes a game, a shared challenge or simply sitting around a table can be enough to start a conversation.
There was also enthusiasm for painting, clay, mosaics, origami, marbling, drawing, zine-making and 3D printing. Other suggestions included exploring local wildlife, recording ferns and developing nature trails.
We see exciting possibilities for combining traditional and contemporary approaches to making, encouraging people to experiment, learn new skills and collaborate.
Making space for everyone
Accessibility and inclusion were important themes. People suggested activities for children, families, autistic young people and adults, alongside independent and supported craft sessions for people with reduced dexterity.
We also heard a desire for more opportunities to connect different parts of the community.
Four people expressed an interest in volunteering, and several potential connections with local community organisations emerged. We’re looking forward to exploring these further.
What happens next?
The consultation was a starting point rather than a finished plan. Each suggestion represents an individual contribution, and we want to hear from more residents before deciding what to develop.
An informal games and making event could offer an opportunity to try activities and continue the conversation. Longer term, we’re interested in a community-led project exploring Farnworth’s history, people and places through art, mapping and shared memories.
Perhaps what excited us most was the diversity of ideas: a giant jigsaw, a game of carrom, a painting of a familiar street or a fern growing between paving stones. Each offers a different way of thinking about creativity, participation and belonging.
Thank you to everyone who shared an idea, started a conversation or offered to get involved. We’re looking forward to discovering what we can make together.
