The Factory and Do It Different
I invited Mel Rye Illustration to collaborate with me to develop the elements of the interpretation (which drew from The Factory curriculum and do It Different principles).
The exhibition interpretation contextualises The Factory and Do It Different work and overarching ideas within the historical setting. It’s situated in significant places in The Workhouse (such as the school room for example).
Contemporary parallels
The exhibition interpretation introduces visitors to the resonant contemporary parallels that the Do It Different exhibition explores and leads them up to the exhibition.
The Do It Different language board invites visitors to add to an ever evolving visual language board that references visual langue used by tutor-collaborators from the art school.
Sensory Book
Mel Rye created a sensory book with scannable audio content.
Creative collaborators
Do it Different
As 2019- 20 National Trust Creative Fellow at The Workhouse, Southwell I devised and ran a year-long commission in collaboration with over 200 neuro and mobility diverse children, young people and adults.
The Factory alternative art school
I built the Factory alternative art school at The Workhouse, which evolved co-creatively over the course of 12 months. The school existed across 4 sites (inside two children’s homes, at Nottingham Mencap and at The Workhouse).
Everyone involved shaped the structure, process and outcomes as both a tutor and creative collaborator.
Do It Different curriculum and work
The Do It Different curriculum responded to the unique sensory, communication and movement styles of everyone involved and was characterised by free imaginative exploration. It ​informed three Do It Different Projects that explored movement, sound and textiles and also shaped The Factory space which housed paintings, sculptures textiles work and performances.
The title, Do It Different, was coined by one of the tutor/collaborators.
The school and projects evolved into the Do It Different exhibition, Do It Different website, Do It Different arts trail and Casual Terms film.
The Workhouse context
By foregrounding and developing collaborative structures that challenged conformity and hierarchy, the art school intentionally broke the rules and routines of The Workhouse past.
Do It Different in the future
By highlighting and breaking from historic structures and practices that inform our educational, creative and social care institutions today, Do It Different also asks us to consider how these institutions can evolve more progressively in the future.
