Darwen Vale Museum of Memory

A Blackburn kind of a day today renewing work suspended for the summer on an artist project linked to the Borough's school-building. Called Building Schools For The Future, this national initiative was a Labour government funded programme, long since scrapped by the Coalition. Fortunately, the bulk of Blackburn's own programme crept under the wire, as they had already gained critical momentum.

My work involves selecting artists to work on 'residencies' within eight separate schools. Each artist develops artworks alongside community and school and these are then embedded into the architectural fabric - like the old applied arts. The first phase is now complete with four new or modified schools opened this month. We are just about to launch the next batch.

This is a picture of one of my colleague Noah's artworks installed as part of his residency in Darwen Vale High School. This piece is his Museum of Memory where archived photographs have been matched with items salvaged from the previous buildings demolition and refurbishment works. These discarded items would otherwise have been thrown in the skip, and some of this ephemera dates from it's Darwen Grammar School days, from as early as 1938.

The mini museum was curated with the help of old and current pupils, and the exhibits were installed into cabinets Noah designed for what would have otherwise been blank walls. As well as the archive photographs, exhibits include such things as old Home Economics cookware; an ancient typewriter; and even the salvaged 'Poisons Cupboard' from the Chemistry Lab. The intention is for the students to develop their own museum group in time, and to change the exhibits regularly.

The recent school opening day attracted 1000 visitors, most of whom were old pupils, and not current ones with their parents. It seems the school is still held in great affection, and Noah's work taps into this.