Cardboard Cities was a large-scale participatory arts project led by CreweCreates CIC and funded through Arts Council England Place Partnership funding via Cheshire East Council.
CreweCreates brought together a team of artists, led by Sarah Hayes for the cardboard and willow sculpture elements, alongside artists working across spoken word, printmaking, costume design and creative facilitation. The project engaged schools, community groups, families and volunteers in exploring what makes Crewe distinctive and what people value about their town.
Through workshops in schools, community settings and Crewe//Makes: Artspace, participants reimagined Crewe’s landmarks, industries, heritage and future using cardboard, willow, print, textiles, performance and creative writing. Inspired by everything from Queen’s Park and the Lyceum Theatre to Crewe’s engineering heritage, participants co-created large-scale artworks that grew into an evolving exhibition shaped by the community.
The project engaged 3,116 participants through 40 workshops, supported by 7 artists, 26 volunteers and 388 volunteer hours. Participants included young people from Wistaston Academy Primary School and Adelaide School, alongside Down Syndrome Cheshire, Crewe Lyceum Theatre Youth Group, NHS families, home educators and wider community groups.
The film captures the creative journey of the project and features spoken word by Jamie Lynch, developed with young people from Wistaston Academy Primary School and Adelaide School, reflecting on place, identity and community through their experiences of Crewe.
Cardboard Cities forms part of CreweCreates’ wider Place Maker programme, using creativity to bring people together, celebrate local identity and support cultural participation in Crewe town centre.
Produced by CreweCreates CIC.
Funded by Arts Council England Place Partnership funding through Cheshire East Council.