Moved to Create Artwork
Moved to Create
“Moved to Create” is a celebration of creativity in the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site!
It includes a selection of works which have been produced during the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site’s Great Place Scheme since 2018.
These artworks were displayed in the World Heritage Day Pop Up exhibition around Cromford Mills, Cromford Wharf and along the canal to High Peak Junction, Leawood Pumphouse and Aqueduct Cottage on 16th to 18th April 2021.
We have reproduced the display boards here in case you missed the temporary exhibition.
To view the separate images up close, click on the image, and hold down your Ctrl button whilst moving your mouse scroller forward.
Funding is thanks to the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Arts Council of England for the DVMWHS Great Place Scheme.
Art in situ
Creative Commissioning
Artists have been commissioned to create new work, along with providing opportunities for audiences to experience, and in some instances, participate in creating the artwork. Sculpture, sound collage, music, film and visual arts installations have all been part of the richness of this programme which included 3 major commissions and pop up Art In Unusual Spaces. The producer for this programme was Beam.
Creative Commissioning - Thread
‘Thread’ by textiles artist Seiko Kinoshita was one of the major commissions for the Great Place Scheme arts project. It was a contemporary textiles installation and lantern lit event inspired by the built and social history around Strutts North Mill in Belper. Local school children, crafts groups and volunteers hand crafted over 500 lanterns to be included in a magical lantern lit evening at St Peter’s Church, Belper, back in 2019.
Art in situ
Creative Commissioning - Mr Arkwright
Mr Arkwright was another of the major commissions and was an interactive installation by Jo Fairfax. It was a water and cycle powered drawing machine which was inspired by the early life of Richard Arkwright as he started his journey as entrepreneur, inventor and architect of the modern factory system.
Art in situ
Creative Commissioning - Art in Unusual Spaces
This was part of the arts commissioning programme managed by Beam. It includes visual art installation, music, spoken word and creative ‘have a go’ activities designed to help people explore the heritage of the Derwent Valley Mills and enjoy cultural experiences. Over 20 local artists have been involved.
Art in situ
Creative Commissioning - Derwent Delights
Derwent Delights is a collection of beautifully hand-crafted sculptures which contain textile characters, and poetry all inspired by and celebrating the uniqueness of the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site. Sculptor, Mils Halpin has created five metal sculpted vessels inspired and informed by the ‘key attributes and values’ that earned the Site their UNESCO World Heritage Site status in 2001. They also depict different areas of the valley characterised by the river.
Artist Tan Draig, MBE has created a group of his unique textile sculptures ‘Meki Meki’. Each character is informed by complex attributes of the Derwent Valley and entitled Work/Force, Build, Weir, Machine and Wealth.
The project has been managed by Fleet Arts in Belper, who have also run creative engagement sessions with a wide variety of groups within the Valley, exploring its heritage through video, textiles and creative writing.
Art in situ
Great Works
Creative courses have been offered in partnership with Derbyshire County Council Adult Education Service at Strutt Centre, Belper & Derbyshire Eco Centre. The built, natural and cultural landscape of the Derwent Valley has been used as inspiration for developing skills and confidence.
The industrial heritage of innovation and making has inspired arts activities for people to connect and communicate with the culture and heritage at the heart of the World Heritage Site. The following artworks are from participants in the Great Works project, part of the Great Place Scheme.
Great Works - Cromford Mills
Collagraph print created by a participant on the Printmaking Local Landscapes course. This took place at Derbyshire Eco Centre as part of the Great Works Project run by Derbyshire Adult Community Education Service.
Art in situ
Great Works - Running Hare
Collagraph print created by a participant on the Printmaking Local Landscapes course. This took place at Strutts Centre, Belper as part of the Great Works Project run by Derbyshire Adult Community Education Service.
Art in situ
Great Works - Derwent Valley Landscape
Collagraph print created by a participant on the Printmaking Local Landscapes course. This took place at Strutts Centre, Belper as part of the Great Works Project run by Derbyshire Adult Community Education Service.
Art in situ
Great Works - Derby Silk Mill
Collagraph print created by a participant on the Printmaking Local Landscapes course. This took place at Strutts Centre Belper as part of the Great Works Project run by Derbyshire Adult Community Education Service.
Art in situ
Great Works - Map of Belper Mills
Collagraph and screen print created by a participant on the Printmaking Local Landscapes course. This took place at Derbyshire Eco Centre as part of the Great Works Project run by Derbyshire Adult Community Education Service.
Art in situ
Great Works - The Chevin
Collagraph print created by a participant on the Printmaking Local Landscapes course. This took place at Derbyshire Eco Centre as part of the Great Works Project run by Derbyshire Adult Community Education Service.
Art in situ
Great Works - Footpath
Collagraph print created by a participant on the Printmaking Local Landscapes course. This took place at Derbyshire Eco Centre as part of the Great Works Project run by Derbyshire Adult Community Education Service.
Art in situ
Great Works - Birdswood
Lino print created by a participant on the Printmaking Local Landscapes course. This took place at the Strutts Centre, Belper as part of the Great Works Project run by Derbyshire Adult Community Education Service.
Art in situ
Great Works - Nailers Shop
Lino print created by a participant on the Printmaking Local Landscapes course. This took place at the Strutts Centre, Belper as part of the Great Works Project run by Derbyshire Adult Community Education Service.
Art in situ
Great Works - Leawood Pumphouse
Mono print created by a participant on the Printmaking Local Landscapes course. This took place at the Strutts Centre, Belper as part of the Great Works Project run by Derbyshire Adult Community Education Service.
Art in situ
Great Works - Earth Science
Collagraph print created by a participant on the Printmaking Local Landscapes course. This took place at Derbyshire Eco Centre as part of the Great Works Project run by Derbyshire Adult Community Education Service.
Art in situ
Great Works - The Wharf Shed
Collagraph print created by a participant on the Printmaking Local Landscapes course. This took place at the Strutts Centre, Belper as part of the Great Works Project run by Derbyshire Adult Community Education Service.
Art in situ
Great Works - Chevin View
Collagraph print created by a participant on the Printmaking Local Landscapes course. This took place at Derbyshire Eco Centre as part of the Great Works Project run by Derbyshire Adult Community Education Service.
Art in situ
Great Works - Cotton Threads
Screen print created by a participant on the Printmaking Local Landscapes course. This took place at the Strutts Centre, Belper as part of the Great Works Project run by Derbyshire Adult Community Education Service.
Art in situ
Great Works - Poppy Heads
Collagraph plate created by a participant on the Collagraph Printmaking workshop. This took place at Derbyshire Eco Centre as part of the Great Works Project run by Derbyshire Adult Community Education Service.
Art in situ
Great Works - High Peak Junction Railway Workshop
Lino print created by a participant on the Printmaking Local Landscapes course. This took place at the Strutts Centre, Belper as part of the Great Works Project run by Derbyshire Adult Community Education Service.
Art in situ
Young Entrepreneurs
Young people were inspired by our heritage and the entrepreneurs of Derwent Valley Mills in the past to design and create their own products. Forming small enterprise companies, the young people developed team-work skills, were inspired by a visit to site, manufactured products, just like the mills in the past, and either sold them in competition or had their sales pitch judged by experts.
This innovative programme has been teaching employability and creative skills to young people, developed and implemented by Derbyshire Environmental Studies Service.
Young Entrepreneurs - Chesterfield College Graphics Students
Students from Chesterfield College Graphics courses worked with local graphic designer Liz Handley from Graphic Results to create designs for cloth bags, postcards, canvas prints, 3-D magnets, gift cards and badges inspired by the Cromford Canal and the Birdswood boat. The students delivered sales pitch presentations judged ‘Dragon’s Den’ style by heritage and design professionals.
Here the company ‘ASAP’ designed badges, gift cards and colouring activities for children.
Art in situ
Young Entrepreneurs - Chesterfield College Graphics Students
Students from Chesterfield College Graphics courses worked with local graphic designer Liz Handley from Graphic Results to create designs for cloth bags, postcards, canvas prints, 3-D magnets, gift cards and badges inspired by the Cromford Canal and the Birdswood boat. The students delivered sales pitch presentations judged ‘Dragon’s Den’ style by heritage and design professionals.
Here the company ‘EMC Graphics’ designed postcards and cloth bags inspired by canal art.
Art in situ
Young Entrepreneurs - Chesterfield College Graphics Students
Students from Chesterfield College Graphics courses worked with local graphic designer Liz Handley from Graphic Results to create designs for cloth bags, postcards, canvas prints, 3-D magnets, gift cards and badges inspired by the Cromford Canal and the Birdswood boat. The students delivered sales pitch presentations judged ‘Dragon’s Den’ style by heritage and design professionals.
Here the company ‘Look Through’ designed postcards and images for cards or canvas prints.
Art in situ
Young Entrepreneurs - Chesterfield College Graphics Students
Students from Chesterfield College Graphics courses worked with local graphic designer Liz Handley from Graphic Results to create designs for cloth bags, postcards, canvas prints, 3-D magnets, gift cards and badges inspired by the Cromford Canal and the Birdswood boat. The students delivered sales pitch presentations judged ‘Dragon’s Den’ style by heritage and design professionals.
Here the company ‘Molashoran’ designed beer mats in a presentation gift box.
Art in situ
Young Entrepreneurs - Alfreton Park Special School
Students from the Alfreton Park Special School worked with Derbyshire Environmental Studies Service and local ceramic artist Elaine Lin Newton to design and manufacture ceramic wall plaques, Christmas tree decorations, coasters, magnets and badges inspired by High Peak Junction Railway workshops. These were sold at the school Christmas Fayre.
Art in situ
Young Entrepreneurs - Alfreton Park Special School
Students from the Alfreton Park Special School worked with Derbyshire Environmental Studies Service and local ceramic artist Elaine Lin Newton to design and manufacture ceramic wall plaques, Christmas tree decorations, coasters, magnets and badges inspired by High Peak Junction Railway workshops. These were sold at the school Christmas Fayre.
Art in situ
Young Entrepreneurs - Chesterfield College Digital Students
Students from Chesterfield College Digital courses worked with Derbyshire Environmental Studies Service and digital facilitator Sharlaine Fincham to design digital products including online quizzes, websites, animations and 3-D printed bookmarks and key rings inspired by Belper North Mills. The students delivered sales pitch presentations judged ‘Dragon’s Den’ style by heritage and digital professionals.
Art in situ
Young Entrepreneurs - Alfreton Study Arts Programme
Students from the Alfreton Study Arts programme worked with Derbyshire Environmental Studies Service and local ceramic artist Elaine Lin Newton to design and manufacture ceramic coasters, magnets, badges, key rings and ornaments inspired by Belper North Mill, sold at a market stall event.
Art in situ
Young Entrepreneurs - Alfreton Study Arts Programme
Students from the Alfreton Study Arts programme worked with Derbyshire Environmental Studies Service and local ceramic artist Elaine Lin Newton to design and manufacture ceramic coasters, magnets, badges, key rings and ornaments inspired by Belper North Mill, sold at a market stall event.
Art in situ
Young Entrepreneurs - St John Houghton School
Students from St John Houghton School worked with Derbyshire Environmental Studies Service and local artist Rachael Wayne from Creartii, Belper, to design screen printed cloth bags, gift cards and calendars. The students sold their products at a market stall event and pitched their products to be judged by heritage and art professionals.
Art in situ
Creativity at Home
During 2020 all of our ‘in person’ planned events and activities were postponed due to Covid-19. Many activities were made available for people to do at home online. However, we also wanted to reach people who didn’t have access to the internet. Thanks to Great Place funding ‘Offline Creativity Packs’ were devised in collaboration with Derbyshire Environmental Studies Service, and local artists Ruth Gray, Christine Thomas and Spiral Arts. The packs included the art and craft materials people needed to keep busy at home and feel good through creativity. They included worksheets with instructions for lots of activities inspired by our heritage and were delivered to a wide range of participants at home. Here you can see some of the brilliant artwork that has been shared with us.
Art in situ
