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You are here: Home > Other Schemes > Innovation

• Managing Organisation:

  Stroud District Council

• Contact:

  Rozelle Jachowicz

• Telephone:

  01453-754405 

• View Map:

  Click here for winner's location

Project Information

In 2006 accomplished local artist and teacher Julia Christie had the idea for a community
art project using trees as the subject matter to be called The Branching Out exhibition.

Through contacts in the Stratford Park Management Group(SPMG), gallery space was
finally secured for an exhibition in November 2007 at the Museum in the Park with the
park itself being the primary material resource.Several vistas of Stratford Park were
photographed, blown up and divided amongst art group members each choosing a
favourite piece for their own interpretation.

Over the weeks Julia helped and guided her students of all abilities and ages until all the
paintings had been completed, collected and ready for exhibit. Ann Taylor, the Museums
Learning officer worked closely with Julia and with the support of the Museum staff ran
daily workshops for children for two weeks prior to the event.They created a large and
colourful collage which was also exhibited in the gallery.This collage also contained
materials from the park which the children excitedly collected by themselves.

Within the Stroud district there are several pockets of deprivation, where some families
may not share the sense that the museum is something they have access to. By involving
the children, families come to the museum to see the work and are more likely to feel that
this is somewhere they can visit with their children.

Whilst there are many exhibitions in the Museum none have used the Park as their
primary resource and that is what make this project unique, innovative and a wonderfully
inclusive event.