OUR STORY
Positive Placemakers CIC began in 2019, with a group of individuals who passionately believed in the notion that culture can transform lives and spaces, helping communities to thrive while also assisting in the regenerating of towns and promoting pride of place.
Led by Helen Juste, who previously held the position of Arts Development Manager. The overall aim was to develop an organisation that would work with communities to co design and realise their cultural vision. A vision that would connect the community, provide opportunities for individuals to improve their health and wellbeing, develop local capacity and individuals’ creativity, while meeting local needs and celebrating local heritage.
OUR VISION
“We love to engage, work with the community and key stakeholders to develop a shared vision and help dreams become a reality. It’s amazing to experience the joy and excitement that comes from connecting people to each other and the places they inhabit. See lives transformed through the delivery of a bespoke cultural programme. Animating and reclaiming public spaces for the good of the local community.”
Helen Juste, Cultural Producer
Meet The Team
Positive Placemakers CIC has three directors each brings with them a wealth and experience and expertise in their specialist fields.
Helen Juste
Helen Juste has over twenty years’ experience in cultural development, working with organisations and communities, helping them to develop their cultural vision or creative programme, draft implementation plans, secure funding and facilitate procurement processes to ensure overall success that will ensure success and deliver a legacy. Helen has overseen both capital and revenue schemes, developed public realm programmes, a regional facility and partnerships and consortiums. Her passion and enthusiasm is infectious, as well as her belief that culture is central to helping communities thrive, not just survive. Bringing individuals and organisations together to share resources, create a vision and make it reality.
Focusing on place, preserving memories through storytelling, providing a wealth of opportunities for the local community to come together, while animating the public realm. Creating ownership along with a strong sense of belonging, that comes with a connected community, achieved through the delivery of high-quality creative activity programme.
Mike Glover
Mike Glover is the organisations heritage expert and is also a director of Northwest Heritage CIC and a trustee of Lathom Park Trust. He is passionate about revealing the story of place and how it can be brought alive for future generations. Protecting heritage by improving existing archives or developing new ones, working in partnership with local heritage organisations and helping them realise their aspirations. Making local heritage accessible to new generations through performance, exhibitions, festivals, temporary installations and digital animations. Demonstrating how heritage can regenerate places, help celebrate their unique identity, and enthuse local communities.
Ruth Owen
Ruth Owen has over twenty years’ experience within the cultural sector. This work has included curating exhibitions, working with artists to develop national touring exhibitions and commissioning new work for both heritage and contemporary art shows. Ruth is an experienced educator, who has delivered educational services to schools and the wider community. She has also developed Dig Deep Learning, an exceptional resource for schools, increasing access to heritage, arts and culture.