Ollerton’s history and heritage to be highlighted in new exhibition at Ollerton Library, ran by Inspire Nottinghamshire
An exhibition which aims to increase interest and engagement in a town’s history is set to open.
At the end of last year, Inspire’s Ollerton Library was awarded a grant from Libraries Connected thanks to funding from Arts Council England to carry out the Ollerton: Then and Now project.
This project aimed to increase engagement with the area’s heritage, provide inclusive opportunities for all ages, and boost contributions to the Inspire Picture Archive — an online resource housing over 40,000 images on Nottinghamshire life.
The outcomes of the project will be displayed in an exhibition at Ollerton Library until Tuesday, April 29, and will officially be opening at a special celebration event this Saturday (April 5).
After this, the exhibition will tour the district, appearing at Newark Library from May 2 to May 29, and at Southwell Library from June 3 to June 29.
The expansion of Ollerton content on the Inspire Picture Archive was a key aspect of the outcomes Inspire desired from the project.
Earlier this year, new images were added to the archive following a series of photography workshops led by photographer Neil Pledger for Ollerton residents, where participants were given advice and under instruction photographs were taken around the local area.
Neil will be running similar free bookable workshops this Spring at Newark Library, on Saturday, May 10, and at Southwell Library, on Saturday, June 7.
Nottinghamshire Archives, who manage the Picture Archive, are committed to documenting the transformation of Nottinghamshire’s landscapes and communities, and ex-mining towns like Ollerton often present with gaps in photographs, oral history and more.
The project also aimed to involved school children from the area, with fun and interactive workshops led by artist Edwina Kung who used maps of the Ollerton area to encourage pupils to explore mark-making and layering to create their own art maps featuring significant landmarks in their town — further family art sessions will take place at Ollerton Library on Saturday, April 12, and at Newark Library on Wednesday, May 28. No booking required.
These pieces of art, and photos taken during the workshops, will be shown at the Ollerton: Then and Now exhibition.
Attendees at the launch event this Saturday will be able to enjoy free family crafts, plus displays of heritage resources and ephemera relevant to the area. Refreshments will be available free of charge.
Peter Gaw, chief executive officer of Inspire, said: “Preserving Nottinghamshire’s heritage is something we’re passionate about at Inspire, and it’s fantastic to see the impact that Ollerton: Then and Now has had on the local community.
“We’re thankful to Libraries Connected for giving us the opportunity to address this need in the Ollerton area, and hope that the work carried out with residents will continue to inspire them for years to come.
“I’m excited to see the finished work at the upcoming exhibition and urge everyone to join us in celebrating the contributions made by the wonderful community in Ollerton.”
