Peshkar Productions has grown and developed over twenty years and the work they do has remained flexible and innovative, ensuring meaningful engagement in the arts across the many diverse communities of the borough and beyond.

‘[the session] was very much focussed on the young people and their individual context – allowing them to explore their own reactions to things as well as develop interview skills and technical ability in capturing the responses of those close to them. It generated valuable debate between participants both within the activity and in workshops later.’

‘We were never friends before we came to this class even though we’re in the same form. We liked working with real artists and will miss you!’

I’ve been coming to Peshkar for six years this summer and my time there has been invaluable. I approached them terrified of what I might find as I took the first extra-curricular step towards exploring the arts. Now, because of Peshkar solely, I am a freelance journalist and editor for Arts Award’s flagship magazine, Arts Award Voice. Because of opportunities given to me by Peshkar, I got on my first train alone and now travel across England and Scotland regularly. I have spent the best month of my 2016 in Spain surrounded by the most incredible artists in the astonishing city of Valencia as part of the Under25 Routes project. I won my first award for photography with the Hideout Project. I have sat on Peshkar’s Board of Trustees for three years enabling me to see how youth and community based arts happen on a grassroots level. In a bigger picture, the people and experiences I have had since joining Peshkar have been essential in growing me up with an open mind and unwavering passion to make my own mark within the arts. Without them, I wouldn’t be the type of artist or person I am now.

The training opportunities delivered by Peshkar have been an invaluable experience for me as an emerging practitioner. It is very rare that an organisation will invest in the development of its artists in this way and I feel that I have learnt a great deal from the team. The programme has definitely helped me to progress and improve my practice.

The company’s quest for developing innovative and exciting projects has brokered meaningful partnerships and the intercultural work in Oldham has been invaluable.