Hopes Carr and Canal Street are two Stockport roads which have been variously described as 'undervalued', 'neglected' and, in one publication, 'a forgotten backwater'.

Thanks to GRIT Studios - the artists' studio based at the end of Canal Street - that will soon change. 

The ideas hatched within this old industrial unit are set to completely transform the area; a testament to the transformative power of art. 

From 4 September, a crack team of local and Argentine artists will begin a remarkable project of beautification, painting street art and murals all along the walls and shutters. 

GRIT Studios is a hub of creativity at the end of Canal Street, Stockport (Image - Alasdair Perry)

"The idea morphed from a few things", explained Sophie, the artist behind GRIT studios. "We realised there is potential and appetite down there."

Concurrently, Sophie's husband John (also a co-founder of GRIT) met with some artists in Argentina, who were painting street art in La Boca, a suburb of Buenos Aires famous for its colourful alleyways. 

John and Sophie quickly began sharing ideas with the Argentine painters. 

"Soon, we were saying, 'Oh, it's really hard doing this over WhatsApp. It would be great if you could come over to us, and maybe one day we could take some Stockport artists over there.'"

And thus, the La Boca to La Stocka project was born.

"Why shouldn't Stockport have world-class South American mural artists in the back streets?" Sophie argues. "Our street is just as worthy as anywhere else.

"Let's broaden our horizons, and broaden the horizons of this street, because it has been undervalued for so long. I think it's about time that we got some South American spice in Stockport.

"There is a sense of excitement that hasn't been here for a long time."

Hopes Carr and Canal Street will benefit from some redecoration (Image - Google Maps)

The Argentine artists will work alongside local artists in what will be a relatively carte blanche approach. There is little in the way of a prescribed layout or plan. 

As Sophie argues: "We trust them. You're never going to please everybody, so it's important to incorporate all different styles and tastes. Something one person dislikes, another might like." 

The project is sure to be a boon for everyone - for pedestrians, for Stockport itself, and for local artists. 

Indeed, Sophie emphasises that whilst the Argentinians are 'the cherry on the cake', the La Boca to La Stocka project celebrates those local artists, too. 

"Now the Argentinians are coming, there has been a lot more focus on the area. That in turn reflects back on the work that local artists and the residents have been doing, which has been going on for a lot longer."

Much of that work is centred around GRIT studios, an oasis of creativity on Canal Street which has hosted and enabled so many Stockport artists. 

Learn more about GRIT and La Boca to La Stocka HERE.

GRIT Studios is a hub for local artists - it is no surprise that it has produce the idea for a project such as this (Image - Alasdair Perry)

~

READ MORE: Meet the lifelong Stockport County fan behind a huge fundraising effort for Uganda

~

Struggling with the cost of living crisis? Find out what help is available by clicking the government banners on this site.

~

Free from clickbait, pop-up ads and unwanted surveys, Stockport Nub News is a quality online newspaper for our town.

To get our top stories in your inbox each week, subscribe to our free weekly newsletter HERE.

Please consider following Stockport Nub News on Facebook or Twitter