Ashfield residents invited to help create People's Museum to celebrate the district life-stories

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Ashfield residents are being invited to help create a one-of-a-kind museum that will celebrate the people, stories and objects that have shaped the district's identity.

Ashfield's residents being urged to contribute their life stories as part of a new museum project to celebrate the district. Here are a group of mineworkers at Newstead Colliery back in the 1970s and who would have many tales to tell.

placeholder image — Ashfield's residents being urged to contribute their life stories as part of a new museum project to celebrate the district. Here are a group of mineworkers at Newstead Colliery back in the 1970s and who would have many tales to tell.

The People's Museum of Ashfield will put local lives, urban legends and unsung stories on the centre stage to create a major new temporary exhibition that reflects the true social, cultural and historical identity of the district.

Councillor Chris Huskinson, Executive Lead Member for Leisure, Health and Wellbeing at Ashfield District Council, said: "The People's Museum of Ashfield is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the people, stories and memories that make our district special.

“We are proud to support a project that puts our communities at its heart and gives residents the chance to help tell Ashfield's story in their own words.

“I would encourage anyone with a story, memory or object to share to get involved and help create a unique exhibition that reflects the true character, pride and heritage of Ashfield."

Inspired by crowd-sourced museums around the world, The People's Museum of Ashfield is being led by Nonsuch Studios on behalf of Ashfield District Council as part of the Ashfield Creates programme, alongside locally born sociologist Dr Lisa McKenzie.

"Growing up in Sutton, I didn't think arts, culture or museums were meant for people like me.

“Museums seemed to be about the people who owned land, not the people who lived and worked on it, but culture was all around us: in Northern Soul, the clothes people made, the working men's clubs, the music, comedy and stories we told,” added Dr Lisa McKenzie.

“The people of Ashfield have always been brilliant at telling stories. Through those stories we understand who we are, what has shaped us, what we have survived and what we still want to become. The People's Museum of Ashfield is a chance to bring those stories together and to say clearly that they matter.”

A series of information sessions for anyone interested in learning more about the project will take place in the coming days.

The dates are Monday 21 September, 12.15pm to 1.15pm, Sutton Library, Tuesday 22 September, 6pm to 7pm, online and Friday 25 September, 12.30pm to 1.30pm, Ashwood Centre, Kirkby.

Residents can book a free place by visiting https://ashfieldcreates.co.uk/museum/