In Praise of Makers celebrates the history of the Colne Valley Museum and the skills and techniques it preserves to this day. The exhibition runs until 4 October 2021.
Originally the home of independent cloth manufacturers, the Pearsons, the weavers’ cottages became the head office of the Golcar Socialist Club before being donated for use as a museum. Colne Valley Museum’s dedicated team of volunteers has ensured the building, and marker of industrial heritage, is an active museum, keeping alive the working-class history of the area.
The museum was awarded the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service in 2020 in recognition of the contribution its volunteers make to the local community. The new exhibition by Ed Kluz is part of the Arts Council England-funded Meeting Point programme, led by contemporary arts agency Arts&Heritage. Ed’s artworks include a large cloth banner, woven at Colne Valley Museum with members of the local community, emblazoned with the words ‘in praise of makers’.
The piece includes cloth and cotton sourced from the local area. Several intricate needleworks will showcase mottos from the early 18th and 19th centuries. These pieces have been made with a local craft and textile group that meet regularly at Colne Valley Museum. Additional items in Ed’s exhibition include wooden-carved biscuit moulds, ceramics, and items from the Colne Valley Museum collection, which all help tell the rich history of the local area.
Visit:
Colne Valley Museum, Cliffe Ash, Golcar, Huddersfield, HD7 4PY