Publications

Rachel Grant and Stoke-on-Trent

By: Charlie Levine

Charlie Levine on Rachel Grants’ relationship to her home town and how she explored notions of community following an award from Longhouse, an organisation in the West Midlands that supports research projects by artists focusing mainly on the public realm.

“A Better Place for All to Live, Learn, Work and Enjoy.” Having been born in Stoke-on-Trent, Rachel Grant feels a particular closeness and connection to the city. It was the place her family lived whilst she grew up and, after having moved away, she decided to return to have a family of her own. It was upon this homecoming that the bond she had so heavily felt was not reciprocated. Grant found that Stoke-on-Trent had not essentially changed in a physical sense, but had severely changed in its sense of community, especially as it appeared to have forgotten her and her family roots. Feeling isolated and very much an outcast, Grant intended to reconnect with the city, and its people and her art practice gave her the means to do so. Grant sees the community she works within as hers. ‘Community’ in her sense of the word is represented by a specific group of residents that have lived in Stoke-on-Trent for a substantial period of time. She feels very much a part of this community, especially when considered within the confines of her definition as stated above. It was very difficult, however, for Grant to make others in her community feel the same way. Her approach to...

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