New creative programme to use power of words to connect Waterlooville area communities
A new creative programme for residents in and around the Waterlooville area is aiming to connect local communities using the power of words and storytelling.
Plot Lines, led by public art programme experts Studio Response and commissioned by Winchester City Council with funding from developer contributions, will feature a series of workshops for local residents to share their stories and anecdotes from living in the Waterlooville area.
Then, with the help of residents, the stories will be crafted into a public art project that local people can enjoy, with the intention of nurturing the area’s sense of community.
The highly collaborative project will offer free workshops and events from April 2025, as well as opportunities for anyone local to the area to meet with award-winning poet and writer Aoife Mannix, Plot Lines’ writer-in-residence.
Throughout the workshops and informal sessions, Aoife will chat with local residents about their personal experiences of moving to the area, their feelings about home, their memories, and their dreams for the future.
Speaking about her involvement in the project, Aoife said:
“I’m delighted to be writer in residence. I want to write about the foundations of this rapidly expanding community, to celebrate the hopes and dreams of the people who live here, to discover the stories that matter to them as well as what makes their homes more than just bricks and mortar.”
The project aims to get as many local people involved as possible – people of all levels of writing experience are being encouraged to attend, and all workshops and events will be completely free of charge.
The first public event, led by Aoife, will take place on Saturday 5 April from 10am to 12pm at Waterlooville Library, where local people will be welcome to drop by at any point and share with Aoife their thoughts on what home means to them.
There will also be an opportunity to meet and chat to Aoife on 11 May at the VE80 Fete, organised by Newlands Community Group, where she will host another writing workshop as part of the celebrations.
Speaking about the programme, Winchester City Council Cabinet Member for Business and Culture Cllr Lucille Thompson said:
“I’m delighted to announce this new public art project for our local communities in the Waterlooville area. The stories we share of our local experiences have real power to connect communities and I have great hope that these workshops, and the art that local people help to create, will help to bring residents together and inspire an even greater sense of pride and culture for everyone local to the area.”
The project also aims to connect with people who may like to be involved in future creative programming in the area, with community facilitator Gail Howard helping to recruit people young and old to explore what future arts programming could look like in the area
Speaking about the project, Gail said:
“Building on the hard work already being undertaken in the area, the aim is for the groups to encourage residents to take ownership, to learn and make decisions about creative community programming and to build vibrant, inclusive and diverse shared spaces and experiences for all residents.”
If you have questions or would like to get involved in this part of the Plot Lines project, please contact Gail Howard at hello@plotlines.co.uk, or you can call or WhatsApp Gail on 07930 397982.
All the Plot Lines events are free and open to all, with more information available on the Plot Lines website (www.plotlines.co.uk) and Instagram account (@plot_lines_).
ENDS