“Located next to one of the UK’s ‘left behind neighbourhoods’, inviting C&F to return & perform TAP creates an opportunity for our community to engage with culture that celebrates our garden & connects us to something bigger

We are trying to build a sense of pride, achievement and connection for local people, by bringing in opportunities to try new things! Be it gardening, crafting, or access to the arts - projects like The Allotment Project that are fundamentally missing from our area.”

“We have been working with community garden spaces on our project ‘Where We Grow’ and are continuing to engage these communities. ‘The Allotment Project’ fits perfectly with this community engagement & performances in Spring 2024 provide further opportunity for engagement before our next production in Autumn 2024”

“The Allotment Project is something that we are delighted to be involved with because, just like our Community Allotment, it seeks to inspire people to grow. Casson & Friends take gardeners’ experiences and make them into art, spreading the joy, and hopefully getting more people interested.”

“The Allotment Project dovetails with feedback from the communities we work with that they would like to participate in ‘garden themed’ activities, and from the interest generated from C&F’s very successful Tiny Dance project delivered in four of the towns in which we work during 2021.

For MarketPlace, The Allotment Project would enhance our work to support and encourage creative activity in and around the communities in Fenland & Forest Heath where the cultural infrastructure is poor or non-existent.

There would be an opportunity for residents to:

- experience art in a form they may not know or be involved with
- develop new skills
- develop a sense of pride in place and community
- make new connections with other residents wanting to explore the arts”

“We’re really excited to be supporting Casson & Friends with their men’s sheds inspired performance - a great example of men’s sheds and the arts!”

“Local Data from ours and other Peterborough-based cultural organisations, shows fewer men are engaging in creative activities, making them one of our target audiences.

Audiences & partners also tell us that wellbeing, mental health & connecting with nature is important to them.

The programme Casson & Friends will deliver is reflective of the need in the city, as ‘SHED’ will engage men where they already meet, in positive creative experiences that are much needed in Peterborough”