2016-2020 non linear
there’s been a building at this site since 1721 and it is now regarded as one of the world’s first factories, working to create thread on an industrial scale.
in the mid 1970’s the ground and first floors were open to the public as the industrial museum. in 2012 after period of closure this and the other two museum sites in the city were taken under the control of derby museums trust. they began to forge a plan to re-imagine the museum.
as part of the prototyping process of what a museum of making on the site of the worlds first factory might be like, i spent several months as a resident maker (2016). during this time i responded to a call out for ideas about how to digitally map the spaces of the museum. i proposed a non linear project that featured videos of the work carried out and facilitated viewers to co create their own experience of the multiple stories that went into creating the museum of making. the final outcome of the project is on permanent display in the north lift lobby on the second floor.
to arrive at the final outcome, there were two tranches of the project made in 2016 and 2017. the making of content for the project involved me visiting the site with an audio and video recording set up. in march 2019 i started the third tranche of the project in which i now followed the building and renovation work on site. i interacted with those working there, often having conversations that went un recorded. in the final work there are selected videos from tranches 1&2 alongside the videos made during tranche 3.
for tranche 3, the process involved going to site on a regular basis. my visits involved checking in with the site manager (mark) about what was happening that day. as we got to know each other he kept me informed as to what work was coming up in the next few days and couple of weeks. i visited the areas mark deemed safe for me to do and while there struck up conversations with those working on site.
the final work is installed in a touchscreen for visitors to create their own version of the narrative of the making of the museum of making. the work features the work of the museum staff, volunteers, and all those who worked to make the building into how we see it today.
the covid-19 pandemic affected the completion of the museum. originally planned for opening in september 2020, the museum eventually opened to the public on 21st may 2021.
