By working together communities are strengthened. They can develop a powerful voice, build relationships and improve the quality of life for all.
The Creative Communities Network (CCN) uses creative approaches to increase the capacity of a community so it can start to lead its own regeneration and establish, enhance and celebrate its own identity. The community partnerships and community based organisations which form the Network recognise the arts as a valuable tool in community development which helps them work in a more dynamic and innovative way.
The idea for the Network came from the findings of work done by darts which found that often methods of consultation and attempts to engage with communities were not always working, particularly with hard to reach groups.
Set up in August 2001, the Network started with 10 members who developed ideas for creative projects, explored creative approaches to consultation, looked at creative action planning and shared experiences. This lead to it gaining funding from the Community Empowerment Network to consolidate this work.
Additional funding from the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund: People Strand - in September 2002 meant we could continue to develop and deliver creative activity in partnership with these organisations.
CCN aims to build the confidence and skills of local residents, consult them about their needs, address relevant issues, get more people involved in decision making and become more vocal about sharing their views.
A book celebrating the projects and the communities that hosted them was published in March 2004.
Since then, darts continues to deliver projects in communities that are part of the network which now has 18 members.