Artists to bring the spirit of Argentina to the back streets of Stockport

Five eminent artists from one of the toughest neighbourhoods in Argentina will fly to Stockport in September to work with local people in the community and fellow artists.

The La Boca to La Stocka project aims to use art to transform one of Stockport’s forgotten backwaters into a somewhere place, just as has been done in La Boca, Buenos Aires (pictured). The project has been masterminded by John and Sophie Macaulay, the husband-and-wife team behind Stockport’s GRIT Studios and Art Battle Manchester. John explains:

“This could be the most exciting artistic event ever to happen in Stockport. We are bringing together people who have a lot in common, even though they live half a world away. It’s the spirit and drive to do something for themselves, when everybody else seems to have given up on them.”

Sophie Macaulay adds,

“We love the story of what artists were able to do in La Boca. It was a forgotten place; the buildings were crumbling; yet people were determined that their children should experience the influence of art and culture they used blank walls as their canvas. Today, La Boca has become a must-see destination, so we wondered if we could so the same for our little bit of the world.”

The artists travelling from La Boca are: Eva Luna Maissa, Patrica Salatino, Melina Lluvia, Omar Gasparini and Alejandro Fenochio. The five artists will all live in the neighbourhood around Canal Street, Stockport for ten days, getting to know the community.

These five Argentinians will work collaboratively with 12 local artists, plus 100 residents, many of whom haven’t previously engaged with the town’s cultural offerings and activities. Together they’ll create a unique, colourful space that will make the community proud and attract new visitors to the town.

John adds:

“We are both about bringing the power of art to the people rather than just the ‘usual suspects’ and we hope this will be the start of a long and fruitful relationship between our two neighbourhoods.”

La Boca to La Stocka will take place in and around Canal Street and Lower Hopes Carr, Stockport between Sunday 3^rd and Tuesday 12^th September. Local Partners (in addition to many local residents and business on Canal Street and Lower Hopes Carr) include Stockport Homes, Pure Innovations, Stockport Progress and Recovery Centre, Intuitive Thinking, Cherry Tree Youth.

The project is part of a wider programme of artistic events led by GRIT Studios and supported by the Arts Council of England and the Greater Manchester Culture Fund.