OUR STORY
Positive Placemakers CIC was started in 2019 by a group of individuals who passionately believed in the notion that culture can transform lives and spaces and help communities to thrive while also significantly contributing to the regeneration of towns and the creation of a local pride in place.
The overall aim was to develop an organisation that would work with communities and key partners to develop a cultural vision. The model is to co-design a programme of work that would improve access to culture, heritage and the arts while connecting communities and providing opportunities for health and wellbeing, developing creativity, enhancing skills and local capacity. The overarching aim is to meet local needs and transform spaces.
OUR VISION
“We love to engage!
Working 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. We love to see lives transformed through the delivery of a bespoke cultural programme that animates and reclaims 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-five years’ experience in cultural development, a career spent improving access to arts, culture and heritage. She specialises in working with organisations and communities to help them develop aspirations, create visions and making these a reality by delivering programmes of work. Helen is highly experienced in creating consortiums and new networks to enhance cultural facilities and deliver public realm improvement programmes. She is a highly experienced bid writer with a track record of securing the funding and resources needed to achieve the identified outcomes.
Helen has facilitated procurement programmes that have resulted in strong community ownership. Securing creative professionals who have delivered fantastic engagement programmes that have delivered high quality site-specific work. She has overseen programmes that have transformed spaces, connected communities, delivered exceptional opportunities for individuals and improved civic pride.
Her passion and enthusiasm is infectious, as well as her belief that culture is central to helping communities thrive, not just survive.
Mike Glover
Mike Glover is the organisations heritage expert and is also a director of NW 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.