Feast your eyes on fabulous folk-inspired art at Gloucester Docks

Take a look at the creative Folk for Folk exhibition packed full of textiles, paintings, sculpture, digital art and photography at the National Waterways Museum Gloucester at Gloucester Docks.

By Emma Luther  |  Published
Soozy Roberts and Hannah Thomson at the exhibition at National Waterways Museum Gloucester.

A new project is bringing together members of Gloucester’s community groups, young people and artists with a team of creatives to develop exciting new art inspired by the National Waterways Museum Gloucester’s canal folk art collection.

In the same way that 19th century canal boat people used folk art to proudly enhance their environment and define their identities, the Folk for Folk project is creating folk art for the 21st century.

The works explore subjects that are important to Gloucestershire’s diverse communities — from housing and living conditions to relationships, personal identity, families and friends.

Taking place from Saturday 23 March until Saturday 27 April 2024, more than 50 people are contributing to the project, with the finished works including textiles, paintings, sculpture, digital art and photography.

Bold and colourful, telling fascinating stories of individuality, aspiration and a fierce pride, the artwork is a thought-provoking and modern take on canal folk art.

It's also a collaboration, bringing together Gloucestershire Arts & Social Projects, Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children, Matson Makers, Art School Matson, the University of Gloucestershire, Gloucestershire College and Creative Sustainability.

There will be folk art activities for families throughout the exhibition, including a stamping activity to make a folk art postcard.

Folk for Folk is funded by Arts Council England’s Unlocking Collections grant.

Event

Folk for Folk Exhibition at National Waterways Museum, Gloucester

Dates

Saturday 23 March to Saturday 27 April 2024

Times

The Folk for Folk exhibition is included with museum admission and is on level two of the building, accessible by lift. The museum is open from Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 4pm.

Admission

Museum day tickets cost £10 for adults; £6 for children aged between five to 16; fours and under go free; £9 for concessions; £25 for a family of two adults and two children. An annual pass to the museum gives unlimited return visits for 12 months and costs £15 for adults; £8 for children aged between five to 16; fours and under go free; £13.50 for concessions; £37 for a family of two adults and two children.

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