Published June 03, 2009
A multi award winning County Durham museum has appointed its first visiting artist.
Jane Foale is to be visiting artist at Killhope, the North of England Lead Mining Museum, for the next three years.
Her appointment highlights the museum’s commitment to a broad interpretative approach to its role and provides a framework for a range of collaborative activities.
Jane Foale has recently completed a residency at Killhope, which is run by Durham County Council, resulting in an exhibition called From Time to Time which explores links between art and mineralogy.
The residency also involved producing work at the museum, exploring the historic mining landscape and delivering outreach work at museums and local schools.
“Working at Killhope during my year as artist in residence has been a wonderful experience for me,” she said.
“It was an opportunity to develop my work and explore an area to which I have come to feel a strong attachment.
“Being visiting artist at Killhope means I will have the opportunity to continue to visit the area and contribute to the museum’s work and to be a small part of the excellent team there,” she said.
It’s hoped the scheme will involve a variety of projects and informal activities starting with a three-day workshop at Killhope with A-Level Fine Art students from Wolsingham School and Community College this summer.
This will be supported by the AONB Geopark Partnership whose geologist, Dr Elizabeth Pickett, will join Jane Foale to talk about the scientific aspects of minerals and her own work as an illustrator.
From Time to Time by Jane Foale is on show at Bishop Auckland Town Hall until June 20.
Killhope is the current One North East Small Attraction of the Year.
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