Project e-ma utilises the Japanese cultural artefact 'e-ma' as a means of examining people with notions of hope. Based upon the principles of Critical Pedagogy and using a Participatory Action Research (PAR) methodology, project e-ma aims to use the disruptive potential of art to engaged socially and economically deprived citizens with some tools to start discussions about their communities. Furthermore it aims to use a grass-roots approach to utlise and empower local citizens to build the project and maintain it in a sustainable manner.