Make. Believe. is a two-year programme of creative activity led by The Turnpike Gallery and funded by Arts Council England, designed to reach new audiences, address inequalities in our community and co-create new artworks in Wigan and Leigh.
The project is woven together in three strands, which will come together as the Make. Believe. exhibition in May 2026 to celebrate the creative imagination of our communities.
Co-created project with Higher Folds residents
hf screen print 23
Creative participation and learning with Wigan borough communities
Local Artist and Organisational Development
The spirit of creativity within disadvantaged communities is a key driver of this project.
Marble being held up to the sun in a forest
Our inspiration comes from Higher Folds, a council housing estate in east Leigh and an isolated, often misunderstood community in an area of significant deprivation. Through recent consultation we’ve learned about a wealth of creativity within the neighbourhood, from the outsider art of individuals, to the mythical stories of Marble Forest, the Monkey Tree and the Tree House - re-imagined places that continue to shape their heritage and folklore.
We are working with Higher Folds residents to showcase the magic of their community and realise their creative ambition for the future through new commissions for local artists and a year-long co-creation project.
"I'm proud to be an artist from Higher Folds and I want others to see the magic in the world like we do." - Elizabeth Twigge, HF Works CIC.
logo strip