Join us to celebrate those who brought our area’s stories to life through the imagination of our young artists on Saturday 31 January at the Creative Heritage Showcase in Grimsby Minster from 12pm to 4pm at an open drop-in event and exhibition.
This showcase event is a celebration of our local children’s imagination, commitment and leadership, and of what is possible when young people are trusted as creative contributors to our cultural life.
In 2025, two local creative organisations were selected by the Horizon Youth Zone Youth Development Group, to deliver a breadth of creative activities for young people to explore our local heritage.
The “Own Your Heritage” project was delivered by Unseen Arts working in partnership with The Culture House. Landmarks & Legends was a youth-led programme which explored the tales behind North East Lincolnshire’s iconic landmarks and local legends. Through the six creative strands – TV & Film, Digital Art, Aerial Arts & Circus, Music, Theatre & Performance and immersive storytelling, local children and young people engaged with their heritage in imaginative and creative ways, bringing local landmarks and legends to life through art and storytelling.
Meanwhile, through the Heritage of Creativity programme delivered by Our Big Picture, local children and young people have explored North East Lincolnshire’s heritage through making, movement, storytelling and collaboration, shaping work that reflects their own identities, experiences and pride in place.
Working in partnership with Create NEL and local artists, the programme has placed children and young people at the centre of creative decision-making, supporting them to see, hear and value their stories as part of our shared future heritage. From hands-on heritage workshops to youth-led creative exploration, their work shows the power of creativity to build confidence, connection and a sense of belonging.
Both organisations are proud to be part of this borough-wide celebration of children and young people’s creativity and voice. At the event, you will see not only an artistic exhibition, but also live performances with opportunities to take part in family-friendly creative activities throughout the afternoon.
This is your chance to experience the creative work made by local children and be proud of children and young people’s perspectives on our joint heritage. Visit Unseen Arts Facebook or Instagram for more information about the schedule for the day.
Cllr Hayden Dawkins, Portfolio Holder for Culture, Heritage and the Visitor Economy at North East Lincolnshire Council, said: “Involving our young people in exploring our heritage is key to preserving and valuing this for our future. It is young people of now that will be future stewards of our joint past.”
Ann-Marie Matson, Director of Children’s Services, North East Lincolnshire Council, said: “When children and young people understand where they come from, their pride and sense of belonging truly shine. It’s wonderful to see so many children across our borough getting involved in such a creative way, and I can’t wait to see what they’ve produced.”
Co-Directors Natasha Morley and Lynsey Wells of Unseen Arts said: “Working with children and young people on Landmarks & Legends has been inspiring. Through creative workshops across six artistic strands, we’ve seen young people connect with Grimsby’s heritage in ways that are playful, imaginative, and meaningful. They’ve brought local landmarks and stories to life, interpreting them through creative workshops, showing just how powerful it is when heritage is placed in the hands of the next generation. The project has been a brilliant example of how heritage can be made engaging, accessible, and relevant for Children and Young people, leaving a lasting impression on both participants and the wider community.”
Jo Shaw, Arts & Heritage Manager, Our Big Picture, said: “This programme has shown just how powerful it is when children and young people are trusted to explore heritage in their own way. They haven’t just learned about the past, they’ve reimagined it, connecting stories, places and creativity to their own lives. We’re incredibly proud of the confidence, care and curiosity they’ve brought to this work, and of the future heritage they are helping to shape for North East Lincolnshire.”
The programme was funded by Arts Council England Place Partnership Fund and the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
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