Memory Lane

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DAWN (Derker and Werneth Network) Arts is an ongoing multi agency collaboration involving Community Links, Groundwork, Action Factory, English Heritage and many other community based organisations. The group seeks to provide a participatory programme of projects - all of which are aimed at maintaining communication and community spirit, providing learning opportunities and giving local people a voice in regeneration.

As the Housing Market Renewal process continues, it was considered that a project that worked with local primary schools in Derker and Werneth would provide an interesting viewpoint on the value of the cultural and built heritage of those areas to young people.

Memory Lane provided younger young people attending Mayfield Primary School in Derker with the opportunity to research the past, comment on the present and have a clearer perspective on the future. The students discovered that change is an ongoing never ending process, and what they were currently living through was, as it had been in the periods throughout the last three centuries, one of significant change. They celebrated their learning by creating a large three dimensional map with models, street names, photographs and key facts. They interviewed and filmed residents and also used these skills to record their feelings about the project. Their finished work was shared with the rest of the school, parents and relatives and was displayed at the Oldham Festival of Diversity in Oldham Town Centre and at a local DAWN Arts Party in the Park cultural event over the summer.

The project was co-ordinated by Patrick Burke of English Heritage, supported by Janice Latreche of Community Links and the arts and media were contributed by Lucy Jones of Action Factory and Matt Gartside and Steve Richardson of Zumamedia.