The Feast - in the Lache

The environment

The Feast contributed to the environment by helping to create a garden at the side of the Larder - a well used social supermarket in Lache as part of their plans to improve their outside space. We also held 6 growing/gardening sessions in the community, all around growing edible plants. We also gave away seedlings at The Feast even itself to encourage the community to grow their own. The Feast also closed the roads at the roundabout for a day - taking over a space for vehicles for community celebration. Most, if not all of our audiences and participants were local and walked to the event. Our event brought cultural programming to the community rather than expecting participants to travel to experience such an event. Our event, used recyclable, plates and utensils and many ingredients throughout the cookery sessions and the final event itself were sourced through The Larder, a social supermarket that takes donated waste food from supermarkets to re-distribute in the community.

The local economy

Our project brought large audiences to the Lache - boosting local businesses at the roundabout. We helped improve perceptions of the space and area, through the event itself, but also by helping to improve visual aspects of the site with the garden at the front of the Larder. We used local services where we could - such as the local ice-cream seller.

Volunteering, jobs & education

The Feast programme brought people onboard voluntarily as hosts, gardeners, cooks, makers, organisers, performers and stewards. We encouraged local people to engage with existing organisations and facilities, such as The Larder and groups such as the local gardening and walking groups. Skills workshops included; various cooking workshops, gardening skills, recording oral histories and memories, hosting skills (customer service, hospitality, serving food, decorating tables etc.) creative skills - such as performance and creating props. All of these skills are transferable to support employment opportunities. The project is also part of a larger contemporary arts programme, with international artists and curators, with national press and opportunities to promote the local communities and individuals involvement.

Arts, culture & heritage

Lowri Evans was creative lead on the project, she has a wealth of experience of delivering high quality community arts practice, often with a performative element. Her leadership and vision, created with the community over the last 2 years, helped the community project team create a spectacular arts event, shining a spotlight on the community spirit and history of community gatherings on the Lache. The strands of work to make the feast happen were supported by working in partnership with world class organisations such The Storyhouse, professional choreographers such as Josie and mastercraftsman James Alderson - to help inspire the production of The Feast and provide opportunities for local groups, schools and families to develop their creative skills working with commissioned artists , producers and theatre practitioners in workshops. We were able to showcase local Morris dance group Lache Balmoral who hadn't performed on the streets of Lache for 30 years!

Activity, health and leisure

Our programme included activities that promoted actviity, health and leisure, such as; dance sessions with local schools (Circle Dance), activities with the walking group, active gardening sessions, grow your own, activities that encouraged people to come together eat and cook and share memories and healthy cooking sessions.