IMAGES of a fast-changing Oxford community will be beamed on to the side of a block of flats this weekend.

Cowley, once a rural village transformed by industry and commerce, will be celebrated with images projected on to Hockmore Tower above Templars Square shopping centre tomorrow and Saturday evening.

With the aid of an industrial projector, portraits of current residents and archive footage will be visible far and wide from 7pm until 10pm both evenings.

The I, Cowley project has been co-ordinated by Fusion Arts with a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Tara Stewart, artistic director of Fusion Arts, said: “It’s all about the people of Cowley, past and present, and raising the profile of this community, which has often been overlooked.

“People notice the shopping centre and the multi-storey car park and forget about the community which has such a rich and varied past.

“The car industry totally transformed Cowley from quite a rural area into an industrial suburb.”

I, Cowley spent a year collecting oral histories from residents of all ages while artist Giles Davis created portraits of local people.

He said: “I’ve got a collection of 60 portraits from toddlers up to 90-year-olds.”

James Grote, director of the Ark T Centre in Crowell Road where the pieces will be exhibited until May, said: “People start talking when you put pictures in front of them and when you put other people’s stories in front of them. They begin to share their experiences.

“There are also other people whose history in the area might be much shorter but they are still able to be part of the community.”

He added: “Outside Oxford, Cowley is known for the motorworks and perhaps this project will, literally, bring a spotlight on Cowley and its very varied community.

“Cowley is sometimes difficult to define as it’s sandwiched between more easily defined areas like Florence Park, Rose Hill and Blackbird Leys.

“It also went through enormous change in the 1960s, and some of its identity was lost.

“It’s very much an area where people come into – to work, to shop – so there’s a large transitory population.

“This is about creating a sense of belonging and community.”

The project will also take over an empty shop in Templars Square next month for people to share their stories of Cowley.

The finished material will be made into a DVD for schools and libraries.

l For more information visit icowley.info