Poole Museum
The Salisbury Museum
Museum & Art Swindon
Wiltshire Museum
Folk arts and traditions are the artistic expressions curated by a community, for a community, and the Wessex region holds a rich folk heritage. Lost & Found aims to break down pre-conceptions of folk by rediscovering, reinterpreting and reconnecting people to folk heritage through the tangible objects in our museums’ collections and the intangible, through the living folk traditions of our region.
With support from Arts Council England, National Lottery Heritage Fund, and Swire Charitable Trust, and working collaboratively with curators, folk experts, and local communities, we will research folk material and shed new light its significance to people and places today, paving the way for contemporary collecting and the co-creation of ‘new folk’, led by our diverse local communities. The project will culminate in a touring exhibition to four of our partner museums, showcasing folk art and traditions of Wessex for audiences across the region and beyond.
Un/Common People is on display at Museum & Art Swindon until 8 March 25. The exhibition celebrate Wessex’s rich folk art and seasonal customs.
The Lost & Found project, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, has appointed two artists to create a unique folk song map for the region.
Museum and Art Swindon are looking for a Community Artist experienced in inclusive engagement and community-led practice. Closing date: 15 July 2024.
Wessex Museums is seeking a graphic designer to design a visual identity, produce the 2D exhibition graphics, and marketing assets for folk exhibition. Closing: 21 June 2024
Wessex Museums seeks creative collaborators for folk project. As part of the exhibition interpretation, Wessex Museums is commissioning a Musician/Composer and a Song map artist. Closing date: 28 May 2024.
Wessex Museums partners with Create Studios to capture film and photography for forthcoming project Lost & Found: Redefining the folk arts and traditions of Wessex.
Males great bustards perform spectacular courtship displays, gathering at a ‘lek’ or small display ground to try to impress the females.
The great bustard has a dignified slow walk but tends to run when disturbed, rather than fly.
The hen-bird on display at The Salisbury Museum was one of the last great bustards to be eaten in the town!