Starting in November 2005, East Durham Artists Network (EDAN) took up residency in an empty retail unit situated in Dalton Park for an initial period of 3 months.

During the residency  EDAN engaged with the public in a variety of ways. Firstly by simply exhibiting works by EDAN with the artists on site. As they were on site they also held events with artists demonstrating and producing work on site, providing the public with the opportunity of observing and interacting with artists at work.

This was seen by both the artists and Dalton Park as a way of bringing together artists and the community in a popular setting and giving people the opportunity to see work they would perhaps not normally choose to seek out.

For Dalton Park it added to their community engagement as well as giving them opportunities to promote a different aspect of the Retail Park to the public.

Opened by local MP John Cummings and covered in the Sunderland Echo the project had over 2,000 visitors during the initial 3 month period and on some days they were over 200 people visiting a day.

“The project  has attracted lots of new members from passing visitors or people who’ve heard about it and also there’s been lots of schools interest – we’ve been asked to give talks etc to 6^th form groups”

Bill Harris - EDAN

“We got good feedback from customers and that’s one of the major things for us. The thing that’s surprised us most is the type of people who’ve gone - it’s everyone.”

Heather Scott, Marketing Manager of Dalton Park

The partnership has been so successful that in 2008 EDAN and Dalton Park will be working together again on a similar residency revolving around recycling which is part of Dalton Parks focus for the year.