West Cumbria’s People-Powered Joy Revolution continues
Everyone Here – the region’s Creative People and Places project – has secured continued funding from Arts Council England to take their work forward into 2026–2029.
Everyone Here has built a genuinely citizen-led programme of creative activity in West Cumbria. At its heart is Jury for Joy – the UK’s first long-term citizens’ jury on art and creativity — where 28 local people have come together to explore what creativity means for their communities. Through open deliberation and collective decision-making, Jury for Joy has designed and commissioned a vibrant mix of events and projects shaped by, and for, the people of West Cumbria.
These projects have ranged in size and scale. The Spark Bus Tour, delivered in partnership with Workington Transport Heritage Trust, transformed a vintage bus into a travelling community workshop with creative pit stops in Cleator Moor, Distington, Seascale, Frizington, Millom, Mirehouse, Allonby, Aspatria and Dearham – giving hundreds of locals the chance to take part in taster sessions and create their own art.
Hall Park Light Works attracted over 10,000 visitors who enjoyed a magical, free outdoor light show in Workington in the lead-up to Christmas. Earlier this year, the Imagine Festival took over Seascale with a community-led arts celebration where 1,500 people joined in performances and pop-up activities across the coastal town.
Everyone Here could not have taken on this work without the help of a few trusted partners.
ACTion with Communities in Cumbria helped lead the project in its early years, offering deep insight into community engagement in the area, and now supports its transition to being overseen by the newly formed Community Interest Company, Everywhere Everything Everywhere. Support from learning partners at the University of Lancashire allowed Everyone Here to develop their projects in thoughtful ways, capturing a deeper understanding of citizen-led work as it progresses. Cumberland Council have also been a strategic and supportive partner throughout, helping to shape the programme and ensure its long-term impact. The support of Citizens In Power (who work with networks, organisations and governments to support citizen-led governance) has been invaluable. Their guidance has helped Everyone Here put citizens firmly at the heart of everything they do.
Dr. Colette Conroy, Chair of Everywhere Everything Everyone CIC noted ’This is such fantastic news, we are very grateful to be able to continue to work with communities in West Cumbria, learning about their passions and interests over time. We are also grateful to ACTion with Communities in Cumbria who have led the way for this remarkable project. We look forward to continuing to build on this work’
Lynda, a Jury for Joy member said ‘I’m so excited to be part of a team (Jury for Joy) whose purpose is to bring Joy to the people of West Cumbria – who wouldn’t be?! Meeting new people from all walks of life, the diversity and inclusion aspect of this programme is to be admired and the skill of the Everyone Here team, how they take lots of ideas and suggestions and bring them all together into a cohesive plan is second to none. Such a privilege to be part of this amazing adventure, can’t wait to see where it leads..’.
Over the next three years Everyone Here hope to take their Jury for Joy forward into a citizens’ assembly by 2029 and discussion have already started with local people about beginning a Children’s Jury for Joy in the future.
Other forthcoming events from Everyone Here include two festive outdoor light shows this December, one in Workington on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 December and Seascale on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 December. Plus, a second Imagine Festival in February 2026.