Bring your story to life
A variety of free workshops started on Wednesday 22nd March for Wellingborough residents to bring their own stories to life through art, craft and making.
Wellingborough Stories, a community heritage project made possible with funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, aims to capture untold stories from the town’s many communities. The resulting stories, writings, and artworks made during the project will be presented back to the community at the Wellingborough Stories Festival in May this year.
So far, we have gathered over 40 local stories in partnership with a wide range of community groups and organisations, and now more life experiences from ordinary people are being sought and gathered.
Our community panel have selected three artists to help local people bring their own history to life in new and innovative ways, and we now invite you to come and meet them and get creative!
Next week you can have a go at drawing your story with illustrator Kremena Dimitrova, who will be running workshops to bring Wellingborough’s multi-layered oral histories to life. You can learn about illustration, character development, storyboarding and comic-making whilst experimenting with different artistic techniques and materials. You can drop in to Kremena’s workshops on 22nd, 23rd and 24th March in Wellingborough Library or the Victoria Centre.
You are also invited to bring along a photo or memento that relates to ‘home’ to Wellingborough Library on Saturday 25th March, and chat about your life with immersive art specialists Makers of Imaginary Worlds, who are seeking inspiration from local people for their new interactive artwork. Or continue discussions around the theme of ‘home’ with some hands-on art and craft making on Wednesday 29th and Thursday 30th March at Wellingborough African Caribbean Association.
Visit the Swansgate Centre on Saturday 25th March to take part in a drop-in craft activity with puppeteer and filmmaker Ruth Pigott to create your own unique zoetropes and learn all about this simple technique to get your own drawings moving! You will also have the opportunity to make your own ‘mini me’ puppet character that will feature in an animated film about the lives of local people.
“We’d love to celebrate as many people’s stories as possible! You don’t need have any experience in drawing, writing or making to get involved as our artists will guide you in bringing your ideas to life so you can contribute your story to this snapshot in time of Wellingborough and its communities.”
Vicky Frayard – Head of Creative Programme
Wellingborough Stories workshops and events are free to attend and there’s no need to book a place. All ages are welcome, although anyone under the age of 16 should be accompanied by an adult.
All event details can be found at www.madewithmany.org/wellingborough-stories
During the Festival in May, Made With Many will also need the help of the community to invigilate artworks or assist with some activities. If you’re interested in volunteering as a Festival Assistant you can register your interest by emailing myrle@madewithmany.org or by calling 07936958997 – on a normal week Myrle is usually at work from Tuesday to Friday.
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Published 17th March 2023