Museum of Possibilities
An Urban Wilderness publication as part of the Decommissioning the Twentieth Century/ AHRC/ Landscape Decisions academic research project. Funder; Arts and Humanities Research Council Commissioning body; Keele University Lead Academic; Dr Ben Anderson Lead Arts Organisation; Urban Wilderness CIC Partner organisations; Chatterley Whitfield Friends and CAFAG (Chell Area Family Action Group)
The Museum of Possibilities invites local residents, visitors, community groups and you to engage with the past, present and future of Chatterley Whitfield Colliery by asking
What would you put in a museum at chatterley whitfield colliery?
Chatterley Whitfield is a deep mine colliery in Stoke-on-Trent Decommissioned in 1977 A Mining Museum from 1979 to 1999 Designated as a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic England in 1993
Chatterley Whitfield Colliery is situated in Fegg Hayes, a ward in the north of Stoke on Trent Fegg Hayes sits within the 10% most deprived regions in the UK (out of the 353 most deprived) Unemployment in Fegg Hayes is higher than the national average, with rates for claiming benefits (including in work benefits) 25% higher than the national average Stoke-on-Trent has high levels of childhood deprivation, with 31.6% of children living in poverty
2019 National Indices of Multiple Deprivation
Dig aug 2021
Location: Whitfield Valley Nature Reserve
Site of interest: Spoil heap
Methodology: Select and mark 1m squares Remove top layer and 1 inch soil Sort, categorise, bag and label Engage public with the process
curation aug 2021
Methodology: Sort Categorise Label Display
Tours Sept 2021
Living library experience:
exclusive site access and guided tours interviews with retired miners and engineers
Museum of Possibilities Catalogue Photography; Urban Wilderness Artifacts; Chatterly Whitfield Friends Words; CAFAG Youth Club
What would you put in a museum at Chatterley Whitfield colliery? Complete the blank spaces and share #museumofpossibilities
@urbanwildernesscic @urbanwildernesscic @urban_cic
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houses for the homeless
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Pioneering arts organisation Urban Wilderness work with young people, artists and academics to re-imagine post-industrial spaces for social and environmental benefit. Founded in 2018 in Stoke-on-Trent, Urban Wilderness is run by Laurel Gallagher, Isla Telford and Jenny Harper who bring complementary skills and expertise in working creatively in post-industrial spaces
Urban Wilderness Stoke CIC 6 Bennet Precinct Longton Exchange Stoke on Trent ST3 2JA info@urbanwildernesscic.com www.urbanwildernesscic.com Company No: 11709371