Clothes Talk project will bring Wokingham history to life
History will be brought to life for young people in the Wokingham borough in an innovative project funded by a £25,000 Heritage Lottery Fund grant and being launched this month.
The Clothes Talk project will give local Wokingham young people the chance to create ‘video fashion flashbacks’ and explore the fads and clothing of past generations – from the kipper ties and colossal collars of the 1970s to the bodices and bloomers of the Victorian age – which form part of the Berkshire Costume Service’s collection.
The inspiration for Clothes Talk came from a young person volunteering at the Costume Service speculating what it would be like if the dresses and uniforms stored there could tell their stories. This led the borough council’s costume service to develop the Clothes Talk project.
The Wokingham young people will create their own videos around separate vintage items of clothing and accessories from the costume service. Projects could range from studying the history of uniforms or top hats to looking at changing shapes and sizes of women’s underwear – the only limit will be the young people’s imagination.
Participating young people will develop their projects and skills, supported by Real Time Video, an educational charity specialising in participatory arts projects. Berkshire Record Office will supply additional expertise in seeking out historical information such as maps or old photographs of shop fronts or fashions. The young people’s work will be brought together as multi-media exhibition and DVD.
Thousands of historical costumes are available for hire from the Berkshire Costume Service. There are more than 100 genuine period pieces – some dating back to the 19th Century –which will form the basis for the Clothes Talk projects.
Wokingham Arts and culture development manager Trish Steinhardt said: “Clothes Talk lets young people discover how vintage clothes can tell stories about the past. By using video, this discovery is easy and fun, and can result in an Arts Award for participating young people. We are grateful to the Heritage Lottery Fund for supporting Clothes Talk and look forward to working with lots of young people from across the Borough. To get involved contact the Millennium Volunteers at www.millenniumvolunteers.gov.uk.”
Heritage Lottery Fund South East England manager Sheena Vick said: “This is an imaginative use of antique costumes to engage the interest of young people in heritage and, particularly, the changing roles of men and women in society. It will introduce the young participants to historical research and use modern means of presentation to put their discoveries before a wide audience locally.”
Costumes from the Berkshire Costume Service, at 3 Hogwood Lane Industrial Estate in Weller Drive, Finchampstead, are available for hire by schools, drama groups and individuals who need something for a fancy dress party. The service is open on Mondays and Tuesdays from 9.30am to 5pm and Thursday from 9.30am to 6pm and visits are by appointment only. To arrange a time call the service on 0118 973 4796.
Executive member for community development Wokingham Cllr Dianne King said: “This is an exciting idea and I am looking forward to seeing what the young people come up with. Clothes Talk promises to be a great way to use of the treasure trove that is kept at the costume service.”
The service relies on volunteers and anybody keen on becoming involved can contact the council’s volunteers’ service on 0118 974 6263 or email: volunteer@wokingham.gov.uk.
The project will be officially launched at 4pm on Thursday January 31 at the Berkshire Costume Service, when young people will join representatives from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Real Time, Berkshire Records Office and the borough council.
Wokingham Borough Council
The Clothes Talk project will give local Wokingham young people the chance to create ‘video fashion flashbacks’ and explore the fads and clothing of past generations – from the kipper ties and colossal collars of the 1970s to the bodices and bloomers of the Victorian age – which form part of the Berkshire Costume Service’s collection.
The inspiration for Clothes Talk came from a young person volunteering at the Costume Service speculating what it would be like if the dresses and uniforms stored there could tell their stories. This led the borough council’s costume service to develop the Clothes Talk project.
The Wokingham young people will create their own videos around separate vintage items of clothing and accessories from the costume service. Projects could range from studying the history of uniforms or top hats to looking at changing shapes and sizes of women’s underwear – the only limit will be the young people’s imagination.
Participating young people will develop their projects and skills, supported by Real Time Video, an educational charity specialising in participatory arts projects. Berkshire Record Office will supply additional expertise in seeking out historical information such as maps or old photographs of shop fronts or fashions. The young people’s work will be brought together as multi-media exhibition and DVD.
Thousands of historical costumes are available for hire from the Berkshire Costume Service. There are more than 100 genuine period pieces – some dating back to the 19th Century –which will form the basis for the Clothes Talk projects.
Wokingham Arts and culture development manager Trish Steinhardt said: “Clothes Talk lets young people discover how vintage clothes can tell stories about the past. By using video, this discovery is easy and fun, and can result in an Arts Award for participating young people. We are grateful to the Heritage Lottery Fund for supporting Clothes Talk and look forward to working with lots of young people from across the Borough. To get involved contact the Millennium Volunteers at www.millenniumvolunteers.gov.uk.”
Heritage Lottery Fund South East England manager Sheena Vick said: “This is an imaginative use of antique costumes to engage the interest of young people in heritage and, particularly, the changing roles of men and women in society. It will introduce the young participants to historical research and use modern means of presentation to put their discoveries before a wide audience locally.”
Costumes from the Berkshire Costume Service, at 3 Hogwood Lane Industrial Estate in Weller Drive, Finchampstead, are available for hire by schools, drama groups and individuals who need something for a fancy dress party. The service is open on Mondays and Tuesdays from 9.30am to 5pm and Thursday from 9.30am to 6pm and visits are by appointment only. To arrange a time call the service on 0118 973 4796.
Executive member for community development Wokingham Cllr Dianne King said: “This is an exciting idea and I am looking forward to seeing what the young people come up with. Clothes Talk promises to be a great way to use of the treasure trove that is kept at the costume service.”
The service relies on volunteers and anybody keen on becoming involved can contact the council’s volunteers’ service on 0118 974 6263 or email: volunteer@wokingham.gov.uk.
The project will be officially launched at 4pm on Thursday January 31 at the Berkshire Costume Service, when young people will join representatives from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Real Time, Berkshire Records Office and the borough council.
Wokingham Borough Council
<< Home