Priceless exhibits from Derby’s industrial past are being placed back on public view after hundreds of volunteers gave up their spare time to write a new chapter in the history of the city’s Silk Mill.
Items including a noctuary clock made by John Whitehurst, a miniature working traction engine, Rolls-Royce engines and Derby Mint coins from the 10th and 11th Centuries have been returned to the mill’s ground floor in the latest phase of the ground-breaking Re:Make project, which has seen volunteers design, prototype and make the fixtures and fittings for the venue, in Full Street.
The objects, some of which have never been seen by the public before, were chosen with the help of the volunteers as part of the project, which has helped to re-introduce the Silk Mill as a venue which will illustrate Derby’s manufacturing history and also inspire people to explore their own creativity and making talents.
The Re:Make project is a first for the UK museum industry and has seen hundreds of people using workshop equipment and working alongside a professional London-based design agency, called TILT, to redesign the ground floor space.
Now the fruit of their labours, including chairs made from milk crates, hexagonal display cases called Hexpods and even kitchen units mounted on wheels so that they can be moved to make way for events, have been put in place.
One volunteer who has been with the project since last year is Kwadro Mensah, 40, from Alvaston, who has attended regularly with his sons, Kofi, Yaw and Kwadro Junior.
He said: “I do woodworking projects at home and I got involved because I was attracted by the creative aspect of it, as well as the opportunity to learn new skills.
“I’d been to the Silk Mill before to bring the boys to see the Rolls-Royce engines and I really pleased to have been given the opportunity to play my part in the building’s history. It’s been great to be part of a community project and I would definitely recommend it to others.”
The Re:Make project is ongoing and a similar scheme is now being put in place as part of the relocation of the city’s natural history collection at the city’s museum and art gallery in The Strand.
Re:Make, which was supported by funding from Arts Council England and the Happy Museums Project, has attracted attention from museums across the country, while Hannah Fox, the Silk Mill development manager, has been invited to talk about the project at the upcoming Museum Next conference, which is being held in Newcastle next week.
She said: “It has been wonderful for everybody involved in the trust, both on a personal and professional level, to see how the people of Derby have stepped forward to help us bring this wonderful venue back to life.”
The Trust has now commissioned two artists to create large-scale installations drawing inspiration and using items from the collections such as porcelain moulds and models produced by the Derby Porcelain Company in the 18th Century.
It is also putting together a full programme of events and family activities, including school workshops and the return of the Derby Mini Maker Faire in October, while the Silk Mill is also being used as a venue by Derby Live while the Assembly Rooms is out of action.
The Silk Mill is currently open from Thursday to Sunday and to find out more about the opening times and the Re:Make project, visit www.derbymuseums.org.
Follow the progress of the Re:Make project, as it happens from their Tumblr page athttp://remakemuseum.tumblr.com/
