All events

All events

Showing 1 to 3 of 3 events.

• Un/Common People: Folk Culture in Wessex

  • Date: 30th November 2024 - 8th March 2025
  • Every day
  • Location: Museum & Art Swindon
  • Time: 10:30 - 16:30
  • Cost: Free

  Discover the stories that weave together Wessex folk culture.

  

  Un/Common People is a major exhibition that celebrates the vibrant folk art and seasonal customs of Wessex, both past and present. It redefines the traditional meaning of the term ‘commoner’ by showcasing the extraordinary creativity of folk art, crafted by self-taught artists and makers. The exhibition features a remarkable collection of more than 100 objects from Wessex Museums, the Museum of British Folklore and private lenders. Highlights include a handcrafted Wiltshire sweetheart pin cushion made by a World War I veteran, a rare ship crafted entirely from straw linking to Poole’s maritime heritage, and a poignant portrait by a Nigerian artist created while seeking asylum in Swindon. Complementing the objects on display is a newly commissioned folk song and story map, films and photography that capture the Wessex folk calendar, from the Summer Solstice at Stonehenge to the May Day celebrations in Cerne Abbas. This exhibition showcases how Wessex’s folk traditions have been embraced, reimagined, and enriched over time, blending traditional crafts with modern customisations.

• The Great Wall of Swindon – by Jack Hayward

  • Date: 3rd February 2025
  • Location: Central Community Centre, Emlyn Square Swindon, SN1 5BG
  • Time: 18:00 - 19:30
  • Cost: £3.00

  Where is the Great Wall of Swindon and why was it built?

  

  The Great Wall of Swindon flows like a river of masonry from west to east. It begins as a trickle from Rodbourne Road with a low wall of pennant stone. It reaches its full height at Bristol Street and continues towards the train station. Jack Hayward has compiled his research on Swindon’s “Great Wall” which runs directly through Swindon’s Railway Conservation Area. Join us for an evening of wonder, as Jack talks us along the history of the wall, and the changes to the buildings around it over time. To find out more and book, visit the Mechanics Trust website.

• Swindon Wellbeing Festival

  • Date: 8th February 2025 - 9th February 2025
  • Every day
  • Location: STEAM - Museum of the Great Western Railway
  • Time: 09:30 - 17:30
  • Cost: Day tickets for the event cost £17, which includes entry to talks and workshops (subject to availability).

  Come along to the first-ever Swindon Wellbeing Festival at STEAM

  

  The two-day event promises to help kick-start your year with a range of workshops, mini treatment sessions and talks, all designed to help you to improve your overall wellbeing. Included in the programme are a variety of dynamic workshops, including breathwork, dance flow meditation, and a variety of mindful exercises. Visitors will also be invited to take part in a ground-breaking sound bath workshop, where you’ll experience soothing vibrations and calming sounds from Tibetan bowls, gongs and chimes. Speakers will present engaging talks on a range of topics such as stress relief, changing your mindset to overcome self-destructive beliefs, and how the language we use and our posture reflects who we are. Mini-taster sessions of reflexology, reiki and beauty treatments will be available to try and local physiotherapists, hypnotherapists, fitness coaches and chiropractors will all be on-hand to give advice. There will be stalls selling items designed to nourish the body and soul. Book your ticket now, via the STEAM website, to guarantee a spot on one of the exclusive wellbeing classes.