exhibitions
Women’s Town
Sat 30th Nov 2024 - Sat 1st Feb 2025
For centuries, Macclesfield’s history has been defined by its industrial success and Victorian legacy, yet the stories of the women behind this growth remain largely invisible. Though women made up half the town’s population and worked nine out of ten jobs in its core industries, Macclesfield’s monuments and history are largely dedicated to men, while these women's legacies are hidden or forgotten. This exhibit means to remember “Women’s Town” and celebrate it’s remarkable women: artists, leaders, activists, and everyday workers whose contributions have been overlooked. By reclaiming their stories, we challenge the bias of our heritage and invite visitors to see history anew—through the achievements of the women who helped build this town.
The exhibition has been curated by the Blue Stocking Podcast team with support from the New Macclesfield School of Art.
PROJECT INC - STUDENT INSTALLATION
Installed in the Machine Gallery
In this work made by the students of Pinc College, we have picked out an extravagant piece of machinery from within the museum to create a collaborative artwork with the Silk Museum.
One of our students has photographed the silk loom to which we have printed out on a large scale and divided up into 24 equal squares. The students have been tasked to choose a square to trace and transfer to a tetra pack, where they would etch and carve out the key factors of their chosen image. Some doing more squares than others.
The process we used is called ‘intaglio’. After the etchings were complete, they were then printed onto paper where we would arrange them all back together to create the overall image.
Unfortunately, upon seeing them all together, we realised that the overall image lacked coherency, it wasn’t clear to see how it all lined up. As a solution, we photographed each square and lined them up together digitally using a software called ‘Procreate’, making sure the image was decipherable for all who saw.
We were discussing the best possible ways to present the work when the thought came to mind, given the fact that this was to be presented in the silk museum, why not have it presented on a silk banner?
And so we all picked out a silk we thought was best suited for the final outcome and sent out a request for it to be printed Thus giving us the work you see before you right now.
By Abbie Massey
maccsketchers at the museum
MaccSketchers (8th Jan - 22nd Feb)
MaccSketchers are a group of people living in and around Macclesfield who meet up every Tuesday morning to chat, drink coffee and sketch their surroundings then post the results on our Facebook site.
We draw and paint outside in all weathers, so were very pleased to have the opportunity to spend a winter morning sketching the fantastic exhibits in the Silk Museum where we could sit in the warm and draw something a little different. With such a lot to choose from it's no wonder the sketches we produced were very diverse in both subject and timescale, from Ancient Egypt to the Industrial Revolution. We hope you enjoy seeing them in person rather than just online!
Pattern
Wednesday 12th - Sunday 23rd February
This exhibition will introduce our stunning collection of silk pattern books and the conservation project currently taking place in the museum. You will find out what pattern books are, what they need to be well looked after and what skills are needed to do this work.
We are hoping that you will be inspired by the varied patterns and help us develop ideas on working with them in our new Jacquard Studio (coming summer 2025!)
Look out for our programme of activities that will complement the exhibition: see the pattern books, do a printing workshop, attend a talk, and more!
NEW CHILDRENSWEAR DISPLAY
Open now
A new display at Silk Museum reveals previously unseen garments from the childrenswear collection, which are on display for the first time.
The collection features items such as christening gowns and dresses, which have been donated to the museum over the years for them to care for – conserving clothing from as far back as the Victorian era.
It is part of a project to document and check the condition of the items in the collection and share them with museum visitors. It has been supported by a grant from the AIM and Arts Scholars Charitable Trust Brighter Day scheme.
Around 280 items have been meticulously checked and photographed by curator Emily Lashford, who is also highlighting the way that clothes were repaired and re-used in the past.
The clothing, including Edwardian sailor suits, will be displayed around the Silk Museum amongst the collections. There will be displays amongst the industrial machinery. This follows consultation with the museum’s younger visitors.
Emily held a workshop with children and young people who gave their thoughts about how they like to experience objects in the museum. Popular feedback was about interacting with objects and being able to touch things.
Emily says: “We’re obviously not able to have lots of little hands on silk dresses, but we have taken all this on board and have created a dressing up station and a panel where we display samples of fabrics. We have also got examples from the era such as facsimile copies of a Victorian school book. Hopefully, these will allow children of all ages to be able to engage more with the collections.”
Image:Geoff Findlow with the first ever Macclesfield FC team image.Celebrating 150 years of Football in Macclesfield
A new display in the Silk Museum
We have kicked off football season with a new display relating to Macclesfield’s football history, with a particular focus on Macclesfield Town FC. Many of the items have come from a private collector, Geoff Findlow, alongside relevant objects from the museum’s own collection.
Come and explore the origins of football in Macclesfield, learn about the history and significance of Macclesfield FC as it is known today and what it means to be a fan. Discover more about Macclesfield’s footballing heroes, the development of the women’s game locally, and the connections between football and silk.
The display is being funded through a partnership including Geoff Findlow and his former colleague Rob Bickerton, who was once Chair of Macclesfield Town FC.
What’s on
The Silk Museum hosts a changing programme of exhibitions and workshops all year round. From guided walks around Macclesfield to family activities we run workshops for all abilities and ages.
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