The ‘Egham Visions’ project, funded by the Arts Council of England, draws on the Egham Museum’s John Hassell watercolour collection, painted in the 1820s, as a backdrop for exploring hidden stories. It has allowed us to better interpret, catalogue and conserve these works, making them an accessible starting point for discussions and engagement, and culminates in an exhibition opening in Spring 2021.
The year-long residency and community art project was guided by artist in residence, Estella Castle. Estella’s recent work includes “The People’s Pageant” a work commissioned by the National Trust, “Ask the Fellows Who Cut Hay” commissioned to celebrate John Constable’s painting “The Hay Wain”, and the upcoming “No Shepherdess/No Pastoral” to be exhibited at the Wallace Collection. While Egham Museum has often used arts as a means to explore history, this is the first time we have had a resident artist. This brought an exciting new dynamic and approach to how history is explored and interpreted.
We are excited to have worked with the Heritage Crafts Association on this project. Further project partners and supporters are the Runnymede Access Liaison Group, VocalEyes, the Museum of English Rural Life, UCL’s Legacies of British Slave-ownership and Professor Hannah Thompson from Royal Holloway, University of London.
Keep up to date with this project and other news by following Egham Museum on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and use #EghamVisions.
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