Hope Mill Theatre is an independent performance venue featuring musicals, plays and concerts. In 2021, the theatre launched Hopefest, an arts and culture festival in Ancoats.
Hopefest wanted to create a well-being garden and a festival entrance/walk-way with signage. Cityzen produced a community design and woodwork project, inviting local people to learn new skills in upcycling waste materials into magnificent festival art.
Pallet wood and other materials were rescued from alleyways and parks. They were stripped, sanded and reconditioned. The wood was used to create giant planters, wooden posts and signage. Pallet benches were designed for the well-being garden along with some pallet planters.
Over 2 weekends, Cityzen worked with Boiler House, Men's Shed to break the pallets down to board and blocks. From here the group sketched some ideas for a festival entrance.
We used IBCs to create giant boxes with a pallet clad. Local artist Sarah designed an amazing logo which we CNC'ed from marine ply. Mikk worked his crafty magic to convert the IBCs into lovely grow boxes with a system for the posts and the signage.