Skip to content
21
21 On Now
A woman sits on an unmade bed, in a nightgown and her hair tied up in a scarf. We see her from the side. She sits in a dark room and is lit from the front by a bright lamp. She is looking at the light.

Helen

9th Jul 2017 — 30th Nov 2019
Project Details
Categories
  • Collectivity

Helen's programme was constructed to develop tools with and for women. Tools for building a new kind of future for women in the town and beyond.

Helen is a once in a generation series of art projects and programmes of work created by partners Heart of Glass, idle women, and ANU Productions and the women of St Helens.

Helen takes its inspiration from the women of St Helens.

A multi faceted programme of work, Helen initially took place over three years, creating opportunities for women with a range of experiences and confidence to get involved; from conversation to performance, plumbing to demolition, decorating to stage management.

In 2018 and beyond, the partners pushed the boundaries of how and why art is made. A series of workshops, collaborations and performances offered immersive art experiences in collaboration with St Helens women. This artistic programme was constructed to develop tools with and for women. Tools for building a new kind of future for women in the town and beyond.

Helen includes:

Labour - a three year deconstruction and construction project with local women and women in trade developed by idle women

Torch - a new immersive performance for St Helens created by Anu Productions

Gossips - an eighteen month talent development programme for women’s professional development created by Sarah Bailey for Heart of Glass; and

Helen Digital - a new platform by Charmian Griffin for women who want to tear the house apart. Helen is made possible by Arts Council England’s Ambition for Excellence programme.

A partnership between
anuproductions.ie
idlewomen.org
A blonde haired woman sits in a dark living room, lit by a tall standing lamp. Wearing pink pyjamas, she is curled up on the couch. She holds a teddy close with her left arm and her right hand is curled to her face. She looks sad, in distress.

TORCH

In November 2018 ANU, the multi-award winning multi-disciplinary company heralded by The Irish Times as making the “most searing works of the past decade”, brought an explosive new site-responsive performance to the town of St Helens.
Read More
Want to see more like this?

Related Content

Find out more

A person with dark hair in a ponytail stands on a ladder in front of a shop doorway and is painting a black and white sign. In the middle of the sign there is a crest which reads 'iwi'.

Idle Women Institute

Idle Women Institute was a project and working space in St Helens Town Center developed as part of Helen as a space to tear the house down.
Read More
A blonde haired woman sits in a dark living room, lit by a tall standing lamp. Wearing pink pyjamas, she is curled up on the couch. She holds a teddy close with her left arm and her right hand is curled to her face. She looks sad, in distress.

TORCH

In November 2018 ANU, the multi-award winning multi-disciplinary company heralded by The Irish Times as making the “most searing works of the past decade”, brought an explosive new site-responsive performance to the town of St Helens.
Read More