In Spring 2024, Bolton became home to Town of Children, an ambitious, youth-powered creative health project commissioned by Creatives Now with support from Curious Minds. Rooted in data from the BeeWell survey and building on Creatives Now's existing youth arts work, the project aimed to tackle pressing challenges facing young people: low arts engagement, limited active use of free time, mental health concerns and a lack of agency by offering them a seat at the cultural table.

​

With the support of Bolton Council, an unused department store was transformed into a dynamic co-designed space for creativity, collaboration, and civic action. Across the Easter holidays and into May, young people worked alongside international artists, BASECLAN (Spain), to create bold public art, immersive installations and youth-led cultural experiences.

​

Highlights included large-scale action painting, participatory mural-making, intergenerational workshops, and a final celebration event attended by over 150 people. The mural Seachanges, now a permanent fixture in the town, reflects the spirit of youth agency that defines the project.

​

Workshops engaged a broad demographic: children, teenagers, young adults, parents, and creatives, representing the diverse makeup of Bolton. Sessions focused not just on making art, but on developing relationships, autonomy and well-being. Every young participant reported increased confidence, creative expression and a strong sense of belonging.

​

Filmmaker Simone Turinese supported the documentation of the process in five short films for the Bolton Film Festival, capturing the creative journeys and conversations around cultural health. An additional commission from Mcr Street Poem further amplified community voices at the event, and young people hosted panel discussions with cultural experts from Bolton and across the North West.

​

With a strong focus on co-design, representation, and care, Town of Children didn’t just create artworks; it reshaped how cultural decisions are made in Bolton. The project offers a model for schools and communities everywhere: one where young people aren’t just included, they lead. The project also kick-started Creatives Now's Youth Governance Scheme.