Interactive art show takes over the town
AN entire town will become an exhibition space as part of an innovative art project.
Interactive ‘curiosity cabinets’ will be placed around Bollington for visitors to investigate, with each box telling a different story from the town’s heritage, industry and community spirit.
It’s been organised as part of Cheshire East Council’s SHIFT programme, which aims to celebrate the town’s digi- tal arts and industry.
As part of the exhibition people will follow a map to each location where they can explore old photographs, objects and newspaper clippings while listening to prerecorded stories which will be activated when sil- creative ver plates on each of the boxes are touched.
The exhibition - which will take adventurers around Bollington to various locations, including Clarence Mill, the Recreation Ground and St John’s Church - runs from Friday, June 2, until Sunday, June 4 .
Councillor David Brown, Cheshire East Council’s deputy leader and portfolio holder for Culture said: “We are delighted to see such an ambitious programme of digital creativity and participation launching in Cheshire East.
“SHIFT offers Cheshire East’s residents and businesses the opportunity to engage in a diverse range of creative digital practices from early years education to professional development.”
The SHIFT project won £90,000 funding from the National Lottery through Arts Council England.
Ian Tabbron, senior relationship manager for the arts council, said the programme will but Cheshire East at the forefront of digital arts.
He said: “The SHIFT programme will demonstrate East Cheshire can become a leader in digital arts. There will be many opportunities for people of all ages to take part in activities with professional artists and designers. Along with colleagues from the Arts Council, I look forward to getting involved in a wide range of events over the next year.”
There will also be a free family fun day at Bollington Arts Centre on Saturday, June 3, from 11am until 3pm. And children from Bollington Cross Primary School will be showcasing their very own time capsules in an exhibition to display their messages to the future. Families can also partake in creative workshops to make take-home paper time capsules or get hands-on with the technology involved in the interactive exhibition.
The interactive exhibition has been created by art collective Five West - made up of Sophie Bullock and Anna Horton - with the support of Bollington anthrapologist Zak Tanamli, who suggested Bollington as the setting.