COMMUNITY spirit has shone through a creative arrangement between local traders and artists, who are working to highlight the next generation.
As an artist and art technician, Aaron Pearce started a project in lockdown to collaborate with local and emerging artists to celebrate and highlight their work.
Moving along with little funding, the 'Platform Arts' and 'Hop Art Gallery' project has now been sponsored by a local MOT business to improve the studio facilities and help broaden the initiative.
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Following the investment from Leigh MOT Centre, on Holden Road, this has allowed the artists to improve their studio and lighting at the Hop Art Gallery, above the Hop and Hazelwood bar on Elliott Street in Tyldesley.
With an improved studio to display their artwork, collaborations have also been forged with students at Fred Longworth High School for an upcoming exhibition.
Working to produce a series of works based on the student's visions of the future, the 'Future Perfect' exhibition will open at the Hop Art Gallery, above the Hop and Hazelwood bar on Elliott Street in Tyldesley, on Thursday, May 4.
Aaron, who also works out of a studio space in Leigh Spinners Mill said: "We had been struggling with funding to keep the project going, so the money from the MOT firm has allowed us to expand and improve things in the studio.
"It's an unusual and exciting step to include local business contributions, rather than established funding streams, and it shows just how much the local community believes in our ambition.
"The lads at the MOT yard have proved the power of our community, and with their support, the future exhibitions at the Hop Art Gallery will be much improved for many artists to come."
With Fred Longworth pupils working through dinner times and after school to get the project completed, Aaron commended them on their hard work in the lead-up to this week's exhibition.
Following the successful collaboration, there are hopes to create further partnerships with schools and budding artists, while supporting the wider community with free and accessible art space.
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