BOLTON has been highlighted as a pioneer in using the arts to regenerate communities.

Experts in art, design and housing from across the UK met at conference in Bolton to look at the role public art can play in regeneration and social housing.

The What’s Art Got To Do With It? event at the Albert Halls came days after the launch of the pioneering public art project, Door To Door, in Le Mans Crescent.

The ambitious project involves a 30-minute film of more than 100 Bolton residents opening their doors being projected on to buildings from the magistrates’ court to the library every night until today.

It was commissioned to mark the 10th anniversary of a scheme by Bolton at Home, the council’s housing company, to regenerate communities through public artworks.

The conference heard that the success of Door To Door and hundreds of smaller projects, could see the town building a reputation for groundbreaking public art, much like Liverpool has.

Laurie Peake, programme director for public art at Liverpool Biennial, said eye-catching and thought-provoking art encouraged people to start caring for public spaces, stopping them from falling into neglect.

She said: “Urban designers working with artists pays dividends. There is a spring in people’s steps in Liverpool because of public art works like the spider, the Super Lamb Banana and Anthony Gormley’s Another Place in Crosby.

“But it’s got to be interactive. I don’t see the point in ‘roundabout art’ that you can only drive past. It’s got to bring people in communities together, get them talking and sharing ideas about how they can improve where they live.”

The conference was hosted by Bolton at Home’s Housing Percent for Art service.

Cllr Noel Spencer, chairman, said: “We’re delighted with how community art has been used to bring residents together and encourage greater pride in local areas.”

The conference also heard from Glasgow-based urban designers San Facon and former fashion designer Wayne Hemingway, who has branched out into architecture.