Creative Expressions in Libraries: Broughton Astley Library
In our third year of NPO activity we are excited to be working in Broughton Astley Library.
The Broughton Astley Library Working Group have worked hard to choose a project that reflects the desires and needs of their local community. The team at the library have a particularly close relationship with the users of the library and were determined to find a project that would enable them to both engage their current library users but also attract a new audience.
The project is using an under-utilised space within the library to hold an ‘art tree’ that will exhibit changing exhibitions, created by the local community. Local legends Gather Create Grow, the prodigies behind the Cosby Crafters and Cosby Yarn Bomb, have created a truly unique installation that is now ready to exhibit different types of art by the community. The tree has been co-created with local people with a ‘Community Call Out’ to create knitted and crocheted elements for the tree and a ‘Community Stitch Up’ where everyone helped to sew the pieces together.
We have also found multiple practitioners who will be co-creating art collections with different groups within the community from January to September 2025.
Exhibition One!
Creative Practitioner Jo Shearer worked with three and four year olds from The PreSchool Play Station to create some amazing play dough shapes inspired by artists Henri Matisse, Gustav Klimt, and Vincent Van Gogh.
Exhibition Two!
Creative Practitioner Katy Dynes collaborated with the Year Two pupils at Orchard Church of England Primary School to explore their favourite books, places, and people. Inspired by these shared stories, the children designed and crafted beautiful woodland garlands to celebrate their ideas. These garlands created a colourful and inspiration exhibition on our Community Art Tree.
Exhibition Three: Coming Soon!
Community Participation Workers within the Culture Leicestershire team manage the work of Creative Practitioners, providing support, direction, and advice. Stephanie Strange is the Community Participation Worker managing this project. Please email or call with any informal enquiries: stephanie.strange@leics.gov.uk 0116 3058760.