Getting going

Well, now that we are a couple of months into the project, things are shaping up somewhat. We've been planning the
Folk Art Fair on June 16 at Egremont Market Hall
and the Public Art Conference the day before - an innovative 'webinar' facilitated by the Cumbria Institute of the Arts, where our speakers come to Egremont but the audience don't: They stay in the comfort of their armchairs / office chairs and watch the proceedings online. We'll show an archive of the day to the public during the Fair on the Saturday too.
We have also had some great chats with Ralph and Rob Merrett regarding the plans for a permanent Folk Archive in the town, combining some of artist Jeremy Deller's collection (of the same name), and the vast local archive.....all we need to do is get them onto paper and out to potential funders! We want to highlight the towns 'now' scene too though, creating a venue where artists-in-residence can work, and where the young people of the town can be part of an ongoing archive of their culture.
Other good contacts have been made with many local people who want to get involved, with the Friends of Egremont Castle, Wyndham School Gardening Club and the local youth clubs.....