The People’s Artist was an eighteen-month project on the Cowlersley housing estate in Huddersfield. The project overall aimed to help create or re-ignite a sense of common community experience and reciprocity amongst residents and artist, Kate Genever, (joined by a number of guest artists) delivered a range of activities to build connections with and between individuals and families in the area.

The project provided activities for young people in the area but importantly, it devised creative approaches that reached out to adults as well, either in their own homes or on the streets and avenues of the estate. Project such as Tattoo, Doorstep Challenge, Collecta-Pet and Spectator Seat demonstrate how the arts are relevant to everyday life and how individuals and communities do become involved, given the right kind of opportunity.

The People’s Artist project illustrated that the potential of artists and creative organisations lies not only in the creative activity they deliver but also in the creative thinking and lateral responses they give to situations as they arise.