Coffee and Connect are informal sessions offering sector insights and the opportunity to network with colleagues from across the Midlands area.
Join us to hear more about WORK Records, a creative heritage project exploring historic working lives in the East Midlands, led by Derby-based Animate Projects.
Over the past year, WORK Records has brought together artist-animators, archivists, curators, historians, volunteers and former workers to explore the East Midlands archives of three family firms – packaging company Robinson and Sons in Chesterfield (at Derbyshire Record Office), former steelworks Stewarts & Lloyds in Corby (at Corby Heritage Centre) and knitwear manufacturer John Smedley in Lea Mills (at John Smedley Archive).
The untold stories discovered through this collaboration have inspired the creation of three animated films that are currently being produced by artists to bring this heritage to life and amplify community voices. The development of an online resource is also underway to share project discoveries and broaden access to the archives, all of which will culminate in a vibrant programme of public events this coming autumn, connecting contemporary workers with their historic counterparts.
In this Coffee and Connect session, members of the WORK Records team will share how the project’s artist‑driven, collaborative approach has created transformative opportunities for partners and participants alike, leaving a legacy that will shape how these heritage stories are shared and understood.
Alongside the archives, WORK Records is delivered in partnership with arts organisations Junction Arts in Chesterfield and Fermynwoods Contemporary Art in Northamptonshire, the history department at the University of Derby, and Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site.
WORK Records has been made possible with support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players, and is also supported by Arts Council England.
There’s no need to book, just use this Zoom link to join the session:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81523512779?pwd=SlQ3MnJqSEt0MVpVU1dsWlU5aC9zdz09
Meeting ID 815 2351 2779 Passcode 553500
Coffee and Connect is auto captioned.
Newsletter Sign Up
To receive regular updates on our training, support programmes and grants please sign up for our newsletter.