EMERGING talents will be visiting Leigh as part of the borough’s Imago arts project.

Eight artists-in-residence will have their own individual workspaces on the Mezzanine Floor of Wigan Life Centre, creating a variety of public art pieces and performances, and travelling to libraries to host workshops and raise awareness of the depth and quality of art in the Wigan borough.

Funded by Arts Council England and Wigan Council, artists will engage with communities through dance and performance, multimedia, portraiture, digital installations, book sculptures and much more, giving residents the opportunity to meet the artists in person and take part in their projects.

Donna Hall, chief executive of the council, said: "The cultural scene in the borough is thriving at the moment and through the Imago project we have a group of very passionate and creative artists working to inspire residents.

“It is an exciting time for art in the borough and we are all excited to follow the progress of the artists and see the final outcomes of their fantastic work."

Cllr Chris Ready, cabinet member for communities, added: “This is a fantastic opportunity for the artists to highlight the borough as an emerging hub for art and performance.

“The artists are working to become a focal point for creativity, engaging people to think about art, what it means to them and how it can inspire others.”

More than 70 applications were made for the artist-in-residence programme.

The eight up-and-coming artists accepted for the funding were Amy Burdon (dance), Anna FC Smith (multimedia art), Elizabeth Skull (visual art and portraiture), Helen Mather (visual art), Jess Rotherham (sculpture, collage, drawing and research), Kate Bufton (book art and book sculpture), Louise Robson (digital installation) and Paul Scott Bullen (performance).

Amy will be working on a mass movement and dance performance project, exploring dance across Wigan, Leigh and Blackpool.

She will host a mass movement performance at Leigh’s Civic Square as part of Wellfest.

Elizabeth will be creating a series of mixed media portraits of individuals.

Her work will be exhibited at Leigh Library.

Kate will be developing a series of work based on sculpture, photography, printmaking and painting using unwanted books and papers.

She can be visited at Leigh Library.

For more information about artists’ projects, workshops, performances and exhibitions go online at imagowigan.com.