Making A Mark 2021

By on July 20, 2021

Thank you. A huge thank you to Preston, the City Council, all the wonderful artists and everyone who joined us and took part in this wonderful day on Saturday. It was the biggest and most successful Making A Mark event which was fitting as we celebrated it’s 5th anniversary in Oxheys’ 10th anniversary year. What a day!

Making our mark on Preston

It started at 11am but only really got going when the parade, with the ever popular Worldwise Samba Drummers and joined by artists in costume such as Winston Plowes on his bicycle, Helena Ayscough as Goth Moth, Jade K as Wandering Sole, led by Oxheys’ own Tim Saunders holding a Changing World placard, marched through Preston City Centre, holding up the traffic in places (sorry!) then back to the Flag Market for the Samba drummers to give a performance on the balcony of the Harris Museum & Gallery at midday. What an event! We were delighted to see so many Saturday shoppers looking slightly bemused but nonetheless joining in and following the parade.

The weather was, for once, on our side with some gorgeous sunshine, allowing everyone to really enjoy being out and about once more and get some enjoyment. Everyone was encouraged to observe social distancing and exercise care but we had no issues whatsoever. No-one was pushed to join in, everyone was free to just observe from a safe distance or to take part if they wished. An Engagement area provided information and free fruit and water to try and keep everyone hydrated.

Hundreds of people attended and it was just great to see so many people having fun, enjoying the art which the participating artists had worked so hard to produce. This years’ event was certainly the most successful in terms of attendance but had also been the most difficult to organise having been postponed initially from last year and then having to be re-organised 2 or 3 times since as government guidelines changed. It was all worthwhile however – we had a great turn out and a fabulous day. If you came along, or took part, thank you.

Have a look at some of the photos from the event and it’s activities and artists here:

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Making A Mark 2021

By on June 24, 2021

After months of uncertainty due to the various changing coronavirus restrictions, we are excited to confirm that Making A Mark will definitely be taking place this year on the Flag Market in Preston City Centre on Saturday July 17th 2021 11am til 4pm. Whilst some restrictions are still in place, after close discussion with Preston City Council it was felt that, providing everyone exercises common sense and respect for others and providing certain considerations were taken into account that the event could still take place.

Still entitled “Changing World” it couldn’t be more relevant – our world has certainly changed in the time since this event was first planned and sadly, not all of the activities originally planned can go ahead and not all of the artists who were originally booked are able to take part. However, artists are nothing if not creative so some whose original plans couldn’t go ahead due to the restrictions, have rethought and replanned their activities so that they can still be part of it. Those who sadly have been unable to do so will hopefully be able to join with us for a future event.

So who is taking part? Most of the Oxheys core team will be there, running the event alongside a variety of activities, performances and installations such as:

  • Caroline Finnigan & Evelyn Rose – based in Engagement area, welcoming visitors
  • Tim Saunders – following on from last years’ trees installation, looking at carbon emissions in a changing world
  • Denise Swanson – recording the days’ activities through photography, alongside project management activities
  • Bernie Velvick, ArtFull – various arts and crafts activities taking place under a parasol

Also confirmed taking part are many of those originally included such as:

  • Worldwise Samba Drummers – performance on the Flag Market, leading the parade and performing on the Harris balcony. Everyone welcome to join the parade
  • Life Drawing – in collaboration with the Harris, live model sessions will run from 1.30-3.30pm, paper & pencils provided so anyone can join in
  • Winston Plowes – delivering Word Lab, an interactive poetry installation with audience participation
  • Paul O’Hara – a large-scale installation with a car and caravan, to show patterns in a changing world
  • Hodge Podge – an interactive dance and sound performance to show how audience decisions affect outcomes
  • Female Creative (Vowels & Berry) – hydro acoustic soundscapes within a ‘forest’ of trees to change your world
  • Janine Walker – using a large globe sculpture with which visitors can make their mark to create a changing world
  • Krissi Musiol – join in a performance audio walk, highlighting a changing world for motherhood
  • Martin Hamblen – performance measuring visual acuity, making a mark through Alamogordo
  • Jade/Roxanne – performing monologues and interacting with visitors to reflect a changing world
  • Garry Cook – interacting with visitors, produce messages about changing worlds, creating an installation
  • Daveid Darbyshire – a visual arts workshop on recycling, reflecting on changing the world one step at a time
  • Lynn Shaw – interacting with visitors to create visual art collages of changing worlds as postcards
  • Helena Ayscough – spoken word performance, dressed as a gothic moth, to discuss nature in a changing world
  • Lucy Silvester – using textiles to illustrate how feminism has evolved in a changing world

This should ensure a fantastic day out for all the family. We do hope you’ll join us. There will be a BSL Interpreter based in the Engagement are available for assistance.

Several of the artists are also running their workshops online or with small community groups, either before or after the event as well, so do keep an eye out for those.

Social distancing measures will of course be observed throughout the event to ensure it complies with current restrictions. No visitors will be approached or expected to join in or participate in any activity unless they feel comfortable doing so. Numbers of visitors will be monitored as far as possible and space allowed to ensure everyone attending feels comfortable. We just ask that everyone use common sense so a fun day out can be enjoyed by all.

Updated 15/07/2021

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MaM21 programmeDownload

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Making A Mark new 2021 date

By on March 31, 2021

After some discussion with Preston City Council we are pleased to advise that the new date for our Making A Mark event for 2021 has been confirmed as Saturday 17th July. Previously we advised this was to be on the 10th July but has since had to be changed due to coinciding with another event scheduled for that day. So Saturday 17th July it is – we hope to see you then, by which time we all hope the current restrictions will have been lifted.

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Seek to understand

By on November 16, 2020

Despite the restrictions causing the postponement of this year’s flagship annual art event Making A Mark, supported by the Arts Council and Preston City Council, Oxheys has been busy ensuring Preston’s art scene has remained active within the constraints and in a safe and secure way.

2020 has been a unique year with unique challenges, yet has also provided opportunities and examples of communities coming together in ways not previously thought possible but in ways that show that community spirit is alive and well, opening up possibilities for the even greater challenges we all face from climate change. Little could we have known the scale and immediacy in the truth of the chosen theme “changing world” for the Making A Mark event, now postponed til 10th July 2021

Continue reading “Seek to understand”

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New date for Making A Mark 2021

By on October 13, 2020

We are very excited to advise that 10th July 2021 has been confirmed by Preston City Council, who have also reconfirmed their support for the event. The Arts Council have also confirmed support so our previously agreed funding can be transferred to this new date which is a great relief and means we can begin planning again. The event, originally planned for July 2020 had to be postponed due to the Coronavirus lockdown and subsequent restrictions meant everything was put on hold.

We are now working on revising some of the plans and reworking the budget and will be in contact shortly with those artists who had previously submitted proposals before lockdown.

We plan to try and keep to the same theme as initially planned but it may of course be interpreted slightly differently in view of recent events.

Please bear with us.

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Changing World

By on June 2, 2020

The theme for Making A Mark 2020, now postponed until 2021, was Changing World. Who could have guessed just how relevant that would prove to be? The world has changed in so many different ways over the past few months for every one of us – we are all living by different rules, in different ways, some in different places.

When Oxheys’ artist Tim Saunders took delivery of the 250 trees he had ordered pre-lockdown for his Changing World installation, he started re-imagining some alternative options. The result was an intervention that took place on Sunday 31st May 2020 on the deserted Flag Market, all in full compliance with lockdown guidance and regulations.

Continue reading “Changing World”

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The Artful Line

By on May 18, 2020

The Artful Line exhibition opened at the Harris Museum & Gallery in Preston on 14th February this year, featuring drawings on loan from Courtauld’s alongside those commissioned from Preston artists Gavin Renshaw, Kathryn Poole (who have both previously exhibited at Oxheys) and Anita George. Oxheys’ artists Bernie Velvick and Robin Fanner delivered workshops to encourage exhibition visitors to try drawing using materials provided by the Harris. These proved popular and more activities were planned but sadly, due to lockdown, these had to be cancelled.

The Harris however were determined to ensure that activities continued, by providing a virtual tour of the exhibition and asked us to prepare some online drawing exercises which anyone can do in their own homes with whatever they can find to draw with and on. These have now been launched so catch the virtual tour, artworks and all three drawing presentations by Oxheys’ artist Bernie Velvick on the Harris’ website here.

We hope you enjoy them. Happy Drawing

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Making A Mark postponed

By on April 22, 2020

We have maintained contact during the past few weeks with both Preston City Council and the Arts Council and now sadly, must advise that our Making A Mark event, planned for July 11th 2020 in Preston city centre, has had to be postponed. It is an unfortunate but inevitable consequence of the current situation regarding coronavirus.

It is a great shame as it was set to be an exciting event with a number of artists planning a diverse variety of activities. By postponing the event until next summer however, we can continue with developing and planning, so aim to bring an even better event then. We are pleased to say that artists who had been commissioned or who were preparing work or activities, will be able to carry that forward and the Arts Council have confirmed that we can use the funding received to pay artists for any work already done or materials purchased, up until postponement date. This is important as we fully support artists being treated fairly in these difficult times and thank the Arts Council for taking this approach.

We would also like to thank Preston City Council for their ongoing support during a very difficult time and for taking steps to pledge further support for the postponed event in 2021.

As soon as we have confirmed date for 2021 we will advise.

Stay safe everyone

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Update

By on March 19, 2020

A quick update regarding our Making A Mark event due to take place in Preston City Centre on July 11th. We are monitoring the current situation closely and liaising with Preston City Council and also following advice provided by the Arts Council.

We are very aware of the impact on artists if we have to cancel the event, so we are hopeful that the current situation concerning the virus will ease by then. We are however trying to find an alternative date later in the year that may be held in reserve. If it becomes necessary, we will then postpone so that the planned activities can still go ahead and artists still get paid.

Please bear with us – we’ll update further over the next week or so as more becomes known.

Stay safe everyone

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Mardi Gras in photos

By on February 27, 2020

Saturday 22nd February 2020 – after a week of torrential rain which flooded Avenham Park and surrounding area, we were uncertain it would go ahead but on the day the rain finally let up and the very first Preston Mardi Gras parade took place.

Huge thanks to all of the members of Worldwise Samba Drummers for their support as they played their socks off in the absolute freezing cold marching through Preston city centre and down to the Pavilion in Avenham Park where freshly made delicious pancakes were served. Thanks also to Preston City Council for allowing us to stage the event and to the Pavilion for such delicious pancakes! And not forgetting those who joined the parade and followed us all the way – thank you!

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