In 2017/2018 Derby Museums launched Make Works Derby and Derbyshire, in collaboration with students from University of Derby and Derby College studying BA Media Production, BA Film Production and IMedia.
Make Works is an open, digital resource made by dedicated factory finders where you can discover skilled manufacturers, tools and materials to make work within your area. Derby Museums model is aiming to foster an open access approach through mapping the manufacturing heritage and landscape in the region. We also hope this platform will allow for makers’ voices to be heard, and for them to tell their story in a bitesize listing. By building these relationships with the growing manufacturing community in the region we will use the knowledge and connections in developing co-production spaces and programming for The Museum of Making at Derby Silk Mill.
In our first strand of Make Works Derby and Derbyshire we worked with professional film-maker Andy Taylor-Smith to develop a training programme for Derby College and University of Derby students in Film and Photography. We also used this opportunity to foster soft skills development around team-working, confidence-building and communication, but also to make students aware of the positive contribution they are making to their community, and the impact of creative projects on the region.
Roger Waterhouse- Wood Bowl Turner.
After hosting training sessions at the Silk Mill, we then went out on 6 filming visits to interview makers/manufacturers and document their processes, materials and teams. Following this students were involved in post-production of the films and photography material which formed the listings. Factories visited included independent makers such as JMJ Pottery, Megan Crook Textiles, Temima Crafts and Roger Waterhouse. Along with larger-scale operations such as The Smallprint Company, Derbyshire Laser and Gordon Ellis & Co.We were astounded by the vast amount of creativity, skill and passion within Derby and Derbyshire, and found this process infectious and massively rewarding.
Megan Crook- Textiles Designer and Manufacturer.
After going live with our listings we then began a thorough evaluation of the programme so far, collecting feedback from students, staff and listed companies in order to coproduce our next phase of listings effectively. Over October and November 2018 we have recruited volunteers from Derby College and University of Derby to begin phase 2 of Make Works Derby and Derbyshire. For this we opened the applications to students from all courses, and have recruited students from BA Film Production, BA Media Production, Art and Design, English Literature and IMedia.
Our fantastic group of students are halfway through their training programme with Andy Taylor-Smith where they have been building on their technical skills within the museum, using our collections, staff and visitors as inspiration. In the New Year we will be developing these skills further through creating practice-listings with local makers and volunteers to build skills in interviewing and working in a live environment. After these sessions we will be heading out on filming visits in mid-February to list 6 local makers/manufacturers. Keep your eyes peeled for our blogging and tweeting as the project unfolds.
Derby College volunteers getting introduced to Make Works.
University of Derby volunteers testing out interviewing in World Cultures.
To follow our journey so far and future developments search the hashtag #makeworksderby
