Posted on 13/11/08
Worthing Museum and Art Gallery has been awarded funding to lead a ground-breaking poetry project as part of the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council's Young Cultural Creators scheme - a national project working with BBC Memoryshare.
Throughout October 2008, the museum hosted specially designed workshops for teenage students from Worthing's Pupil Referral Unit (PRU). These workshops were led by established Brighton-based poet Brendan Cleary using artefacts from the museum's collections to inspire new poetry.
Worthing Museum also worked closely with Worthing Library, which hosted the first creative discovery session.PRU students were treated to special tours behind the scenes and in the stores at the library and then at the museum. These lead on to handling of and discussion about historic objects that explore the theme of the quirky and "miniature", whether that is miniature shops, underwear, paintings or jewellery etc. This in turn lead on to the creation of group and individual poetry guided by the poet.
At the end of the project the resulting poems are to go on public display (with a celebratory launch event) in the museum scheduled from 17 January - 28 March 2009.
The poetry project is part of the Literature and Storytelling Project granted the London 2012 Inspire Mark as part of the Cultural Olympiad - a four year UK-wide programme of culture welcoming the world and inspiring young people.
The London 2012 Inspire mark recognises outstanding projects and events helping deliver the Games' lasting legacy. While it has sport at its heart and London at its centre, it stands for much more than this: for sport, culture, education, volunteering and business across the UK. Worthing Museum and Art Gallery is very proud to be a part of this.
Watch out for more information and updates as time goes on.