Wirksworth, Derbyshire — Wirksworth Heritage Centre is delighted to announce that it has received a generous grant of £3,738.40 from Museum Development Midlands (MDM) to fund a new and exciting Community Art Project.
This initiative invites the local community and visitors to collaborate in creating a permanent artistic celebration of Wirksworth, while playing a pivotal role in enhancing audience engagement and supporting the museum’s future resilience.
The project will debut at the renowned Wirksworth Festival, an annual event that draws an audience of approximately 10,000 people to the town. As part of the festival, Wirksworth Heritage Centre will waive its admission fee for the first weekend (7-8th Sep), inviting all visitors to join in the creation of a unique, community-driven art installation.
This immersive experience will allow participants of all ages and abilities to co-create a series of portraits under the guidance of an experienced artist and facilitator, Hannah Sawtell. These portraits, inspired by notable figures from Wirksworth’s past and present, will be transformed into permanent ceramic tiles by a second artist (Hannah Buchannan of Wirksworth Pottery Company) and displayed in the Centre’s courtyard as a lasting tribute to the town’s rich history and culture.
“We are incredibly grateful to Museum Development Midlands for this support,” said [Jo Higton Metcalf, Events and Marketing Manager of WHC. “This grant will enable us to celebrate the people of Wirksworth, welcome new audiences into the museum, strengthen local engagement, and create a truly special piece of community artwork that will inspire visitors for years to come.”
Workshops will be held in the museum’s main gallery and studio during the Wirksworth Festival, where participants will work closely with the lead artist to create a vibrant and diverse collection of portraits. The wider selection of portraits will be showcased in a temporary exhibition celebrating the collective spirit, creativity, and heritage of Wirksworth. The most impactful designs will be converted into ceramic tiles, mounted on a custom-designed metal frame by a third artist (Wirksworth artist, Dan Marsh), and prominently displayed in the museum to commemorate its 40th anniversary and the 45th anniversary of the Wirksworth Festival.
In addition to the community art installation, Wirksworth Heritage Centre will collaborate with the festival team to create a visitor trail, highlighting the town’s past through an archive of festival brochures from previous years. These brochures will also be featured in a temporary exhibition, further celebrating the rich cultural history of Wirksworth.
Key Details:
- Event: Community Art Project & Temporary Exhibition at Wirksworth Heritage Centre
- Dates: September – November 2024 (whole project). Workshops take place on 7.9.24 and 12.9.24
- Location: Wirksworth Heritage Centre, St John’s Street, Wirksworth, DE4 4DS
- Admission: Free during the first weekend of the Wirksworth Festival. Normal price: £5 adults and concessions for young children (tickets valid for one year).
This dynamic project seeks to increase local awareness, boost visitor numbers, and foster a greater sense of community ownership of the museum. By inviting the public to co-create art that will permanently adorn the museum, Wirksworth Heritage Centre hopes to engage new audiences and inspire them to become advocates for its mission of preserving and celebrating the town’s history.
