Make. Believe.
Opening the door to the magic of imagination within our communities
27th May - 18th December 2026
Lead artist Sophie Mahon, together with HF Works, the Higher Folds community and The Turnpike Gallery invite you to experience something truly magical.
Running from 27th May to 18th December 2026, The Turnpike Gallery’s Make. Believe. exhibition invites audiences to explore the stories, landscapes and communities of Higher Folds in Leigh, home to around 2,000 residents. The project has been inspired by the generous and creative spirit of residents, and focuses on how people see, experience and shape the place they live.
Throwing open the door to the magic of imagination within our communities, the exhibition shares folklore, humour and home-grown mythologies, inviting audiences to rediscover wonder in the small, easily missed corners of daily life. Visitors can expect to see an interactive film, giant glass marbles, a museum of archaeology, engraved stone sculptures, photographs, poetry and a Tolkienesque map.
Over several months, residents have worked closely and collaboratively with lead artist Sophie Mahon developing new skills and taking part in workshops and community events from photography walks to metal detecting. This varied programme has sought to encourage creative exploration of the landscape, uncovering local stories as well as discovering new ones. From the outsider art of individuals to the mythical stories of Marble Forest, the Monkey Tree and the Smokey Mountain, the exhibition tells the story of Higher Folds. 
The project is supporting the next generation of creative practitioners to develop their skills and bringing together creatives within Higher Folds. Stone mason, Oliver Beatty will carry the legacy of the exhibition back out into the wider community, preserving residents' words by carving them onto stones in the Higher Folds’ Wood. Visual artist Rae Higgs has woven local stories into an interactive game for the exhibition, and local musician and composer Malakai Skull has developed a custom soundscape for the show. Multidisciplinary artist Lucy Evans will work alongside lead artist, Sophie Mahon, to facilitate workshops within the community and theatre designer, Eleanor Ferguson, will join the gallery as their assistant curator for the exhibition.
New artworks created by communities across the borough during our Summer Print Tour will also feature in the exhibition. Embodying the DIY spirit from Higher Folds, Kris Twigge created a unique travelling display case for artworks from the Turnpike Print Collection. Artists Craig Atherton and Kate Bufton delivered a series of pop-up printmaking workshops in libraries and community venues to give residents the chance to try their hand at this unique artform.
Make. Believe. highlights the imagination and talents of communities from across the borough while keeping the distinct storytelling spirit of Higher Folds at its heart.
Have you visited the exhibition? Tell us what you thought by completing our online survey (external link). By sharing your thoughts, you're helping shape future projects, exhibitions and creative opportunities for our community. Whether you loved it, learned something new, or have ideas for improvement, we'd love to hear from you.
Sophie Mahon
Sophie Mahon has worked across the UK and internationally with various groups and
communities alongside organisations including HOME and the Whitworth (Manchester), Battersea Arts Centre, Tate Modern (London), Heart of Glass (St Helens), In-Situ (Lancashire), British Ceramics Biennial (Stoke), Gus Fisher Gallery (Auckland), The Grundy Art Gallery (Blackpool), Backlit Gallery and Nottingham Contemporary (Nottingham). Sophie was awarded the Futures Venture Radical Arts Award in 2017 for her work as one-third of The Next Term collective. Alongside her artistic practise, Sophie is currently working with In-Situ Pendle, developing programs and partnerships around Arts and Ecology and Blaze, a youth-led arts organisation based in East Lancashire. Visit Sophie's website (external link) to find out more.
HF Works CIC
HF Works is a community-led organisation dedicated to creating a supportive hub to empower young people and families from Higher Folds. They believe that by investing in each other and existing networks of support they can enable their community and young people to thrive. Their vision is to become the beating heart of the Higher Folds. Visit the HF Works website (external link) to find out more.
Funded by Arts Council England, Wigan Council and Resilient Cities Network, the exhibition is delivered in partnership between The Turnpike Gallery, HF Works CIC and Resilient Cities Network.