Engagement Programme
Overview
Our engagement programme has included local talks, training, field trips, workshops, exhibition research and design and events - both live and online. We have worked with a range of groups from local adults to primary school aged children, young adults and families.
Our team of volunteers have been a huge part of this project. From recording the collection, to researching & taking part in our public events. Click "Meet the Team" to find out more about our amazing volunteers and who else has been involved, and scroll down to see all the engagement projects.
"Thank you so much the children have had a fantastic time"
Behind the Postcard & Exhibition in an Envelope
Between November 2020 & April 2021 we ran a series of online workshops titled "Behind the Postcard". Twelve participants from in and around Cumbria took part in artist-led online workshops producing creative work in response to The Sankey archive of photography and postcards. The weekly workshops covered different styles of photography, collage, working with found items and creative writing.
Initial workshops built up the group's skills and allowed them to develop personal styles and ways of working. Using the Sankey images as a reference, the Behind the postcard group created a unique series of visual and written works that have been shared online as an exhibition for all to see.
Schools Programme
Between April & June 2021 we invited artist Hannah Fox and poet Kate Davis to work with four primary schools across Barrow and Cumbria. Over six weeks the children learned a series of new skills to create a selection of animations and accompanying poems responding to the Sankey Family's unique postcard collection.
Using a variety of different animation techniques and collaging words from different mediums, the Schools created wonderful, funny and engaging pieces of artwork.
Thank you to Roose School, Ambleside Primary School, St Pius X School and South Walney and also the artists for making this wonderful
Hannah Fox www.hannahonthehill.co.uk/
Kate Davis @katedavispoet
South Cumbria Pupil Referral Unit
Six young people from the South Cumbria Pupil Referral Unit in Barrow in Furness took part in weekly workshops to explore our past, present and future.
Looking at historical society, tools, inventions and everyday life through the eyes of The Sankey Photography Collection, the group predicted what our future could look like. Our discussions always came back to a few consistent questions:
- What do young people want to see in the future?
- What does it mean to be human?
- Can humans and nature truly co-exist?
These new pieces are reactions to our discussions and were created using photoshop. Click the image to view more of the work produced.
Unwrap the Image: Nicky Bird
In 2021 Nicky Bird was commissioned to work with local community groups to respond to the Sankey Archive. Across the project we have delivered hands-on workshops from working with young offenders in collaboration with Brathay to delivering workshops to open family collage and cyanotype workshops at our 2021 Dock Museum exhibition.
Find out more
Brathay Trust
In February 2022, we went on a Sankey inspired adventure with Barrow families to re-trace some of the places the photographers had been. Over the two-days we went on a walk around Barrow town centre, Biggar Bank and Lake Windermere. The two-day workshops were led by Barrow-based photographer Phil Green.
Public Workshops & Talks
Across the project we have delivered hands-on workshops from working with young offenders in collaboration with Brathay to delivering workshops to open family collage and cyanotype workshops at our 2021 Dock Museum exhibition.
We have also been invited to deliver lots of talks - from speaking to photography students at University of Cumbria, Barrow Naturalists' Field Club, Grasmere History Group to hosting a stall in Barrow Market.
