The Curio City Shop is Friction Arts’ public face and flagship project, situated within
The shop epitomises Frictions commitment to working with, rather than delivering to, local communities. This can best be achieved for them through developing a long term and sustained programme of work that reflects the community’s aspirations and interests and can lead to enabling people to make real and sustained changes in their own lives.
Since the establishment of the
Young people from surrounding communities immediately engaged with the shop, and within months of its official opening a group of 20 residents began working with Friction artists Sandra Hall, Simon Walker and Sanj Kavanagh on a series of arts based workshops to create an indoor conceptual garden. Friction used this opportunity to connect with the group to bring a sense of community cohesion, provide a positive environment to explore the aspirations of individuals and explore local issues such as violence and bullying in a purposeful and productive environment.
In the last eighteen months, the Curio City Shop has worked directly with over 200 people. The activities, which are developed, planned and delivered with the local communities have seen many positive outputs, including:
- The establishment of an autonomous youth group, many of whom are ‘harder to reach’ for other agencies;
- A group of parents who regularly engage in ‘shop’ activities through leading workshops, community consultations and events and report back significant developments in other areas of their children’s’ lives.;
- A wider group of local residents who actively attend all shows, performances and events and engage in participatory activities.
