Highlights of recent years have been major projects that have brought people from different communities and cultures together. Creating new work, new networks and above all some exciting cross fertilisation and ideas for future work.

Recent large-scale projects have included, Inquotation (2000), The Rhythm of Life (2001/2002) and, as part of the Commonwealth Games Cultureshock programme, Urban Skies (2002).

On a smaller scale, the Mossley Threads Choir (2000 to present), saw the significant impact on children and parents on a white estate, of Black-led music production by Urban Voice.

Another major achievement is East Feast, a 5-year development of a youth multi-cultural arts festival in a largely white working class area of Manchester. The project helped to change communities' perceptions, raise aspirations and has created some lasting friendships.

Yonne Shelton of Urban Voice

A main strand of our current, past and future work focuses on the development of new contexts for this work and encourage and promote cross collaborations between diverse communities and artists. You know it makes sense!

The Exodus Refugee Festival developed on previous years' achievements involving a mix of communities in the celebration of our newer communities through the artistic programme and as audience.

In the Mix worked with young people from diverse geographical areas, cultures and backgrounds to develop music-based collaborative work through a variety of projects and partnerships. The project brought together young people at different stages of their development, those who were musically active and those for whom music-making was a new experience.

Now We Talkin' was an ambitious youth arts programme that took place in January 2004. It brought together young and diverse people from across Manchester and Greater Manchester to share, talk and create.

To have a look at a number of short films of CAN past projects, including Now We Talkin', In the Mix and Exodus click on the links.