If You Could Speak to the World… is a site-responsive audio-based walking trail through our 160-acre green space in Oldham.

Developed over a series of participatory workshops led by artist Phillip Davenport and co-produced by people in recovery from Oldham, the work brings together poetry, music and field recordings. It invites audiences to foster deeper connections, with wellbeing, each other and the natural world through walking, listening, memory and place – positioning nature and nurture as art.

Across September, the audio trail will be activated via a month-long programme of guided walks led by the people who created it and as part of Northern Roots celebration when it opens the doors to a brand new Welcome Building this September.

Audiences are invited to move through the landscape with these voices as companions: listening, pausing and encountering Northern Roots through stories of resilience, memory and connection. The walks offer an intimate, embodied way to experience art outside of the gallery, where personal histories and ecological attention conjoin in shared acts of listening.

Post September, the audio trail will remain as a lasting community resource, freely available for visitors to experience  independently. Each return offers the possibility of a different encounter and to discover something new. Walking becomes a way of navigating life’s pitfalls and, like the landscape itself, is continually evolving.

 

Book tickets via Eventbrite

Key Information

Price: Free

Date and time: 1:00pm – 3:00pm on Sun 20 September. Please arrive 10 minutes before the start of the session.

Location: Northern Roots, Kings Road, Oldham, OL8 2BJ. Here’s how to find us.

Meeting Point: Northern Roots car park, Kings Road, OL8 2BJ

Age limits: 18+

Parking: Parking is free along Kings Road and in Alexandra Park Car Parks.

Clothing: Please wear weather-proof clothing and sturdy shoes suitable for mixed terrains. This session is not accessible for wheelchairs. This session require standing for periods of time and walking on mixed terrains.

Refreshments: No refreshments will be provided, but please feel free to bring your own snacks and drinks.

Cancellation Policy: Please cancel your tickets via Eventbrite.

About Portraits of Recovery

Portraits of Recovery is the UK’s only visual arts charity inspiring and supporting people affected by and in recovery from substance use (Recoverists).

They collaborate with leading contemporary artists, individuals in recovery, and recovery communities to showcase the human face of the recovery journey. Their mission is to break down barriers, promote inclusion, and highlight that addiction is a health, social, and cultural issue.