Arts charity's Lotto bonus

Reporter: Gillian Potts
Date published: 08 February 2017


AN OLDHAM based arts charity is celebrating a £10,000 boost for a project which honours its quarter of a century existence.

Peshkar has been awarded the Heritage Lottery Fund cash for its 25th anniversary exhibition, which is showing at Gallery Oldham.

The cultural diversity project captures the heritage of its members and exhibits, shares, celebrates and archives it for future generations.

It's based on common cultural heritage and its potential for identification, participation and development with each other amid diversity and against the current political, social and economic challenges being faced in Oldham and beyond.

It also builds on new opportunities to preserve and develop cultural heritage that has been captured and saved over Peshkar's 25 year history on the basis it is an essential, unique and irreplaceable part of the fabric of the borough.

Peshkar and Oldham mayor, Councillor Derek Heffernan, hosted an event to mark the lottery award at Gallery Oldham on Monday with nationally recognised art awards presented to young people from across the borough.

Abdul Malik-Ahad, chairman of trustees of Peshkar, said: "We are thrilled to have received the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund and are confident the exhibition will clearly illustrate the insightful and innovative work that Peshkar has carried out over a quarter of a century.

"Peshkar was established by local Oldham people and has maintained the support of local people of all ages and experiences from across Oldham communities."

Peshkar, which delivers a range of participatory arts in different settings nationally, was set up to predominantly develop and work with young people of south Asian countries of origin such as Pakistan, Bangladesh and India.

The organisation is committed to improving the lives of people through arts engagement and works with young people from socially disadvantaged backgrounds from across Greater Manchester.