Art Pop-Up collaborated with Stamford Town Council and the local Royal British Legion on the WW1 Centenary Commemoration Programme which focused on the impact of the war on Stamford and the local area. Investigating the initial war period of 1914, the programme identified, explored and recorded how the community was involved in and affected by the war. A cultural and educational legacy was created through the research project, the education programme, the exhibition and temporary event space and The Festival of Commemoration, involving nearly 3,000 local people in the project which ran from January to August 2014.
Research project
Volunteers researched the local heritage surrounding the outbreak of the war, investigating over 24 archives and sources, collating the outcomes digitally. The local community shared artefacts, photos and documents relating to their family’s experience of World War 1, as well as stories, building a picture of life in 1914.
Education programme and event space
An extensive education programme with local schools and social groups was undertaken in the summer term of 2014 involving over 1,000 children. Local artist Sue Shields created an installation at Browne’s Hospital collaging work from the programme together with her own, exploring the stories uncovered by the research project. This installation in the town centre functioned as a temporary event space where over 1600 people explored the local WW1 heritage as well as participated in performances, activities and events. This culminated with The Festival of Commemoration on Broad Street and at the War Memorial, bringing together nearly 1,000 people to mark the centenary of the war outbreak on August 4th.
Further details of the outcomes of the project can be found on the Stamford Town Council website
Supporters
- Heritage Lottery Fund
- LCC Big Community Fund
- Stamford Town Council
- Dawsons of Stamford
- Cllr. D. Nalson
