AGM-Back to the Castle: Collection Updates and Creative Energy

On Saturday 23rd May 86 members were delighted to be able to meet once again in the Town Close Auditorium at Norwich Castle for the C&TA AGM.  

The formalities of the meeting were quickly completed: in her Chair's Report Caroline Whiting ran through the highlights of another busy and very successful year for the Association, including participation in the VE Day 80th Anniversary Silver Wings exhibition at the Forum in Norwich, participation in Heritage Open Days, sponsoring two awards for textiles projects at the Norwich University of the Arts, and, via our biennial Geoffrey Squires Bursary Awards, being able to give grants to two fascinating research projects.  All of this was alongside a lively and incredibly varied programme of live events and online talks and discussions, and being able to support the curation and/or purchase of several new items for the Norfolk Museums Service, including those which are now helping to bring the new Royal Palace Reborn exhibition to life.

Caroline also made two significant presentations: in recognition of her long service to the C&TA and expertise in the history of Norwich textiles - shawls in particular - Jean Smith was awarded a Life Presidency of the Association. In addition, tireless work over many years for the C&TA by ex-Chair Joy Evitt was recognised as she steps down from acting as temporary Membership Secretary, and she was made Vice President.  Both of these remarkable women have made incredible contributions to the preservation and understanding of Norfolk textiles and their history, and their hard work, determination and grace serves as an excellent role model to those inspired to follow in their footsteps.

Treasurer Eunice Warren gave her clear, comprehensive report of the financial transactions of the Association over the year and reassured us of a very healthy financial situation.  Two committee members were re-elected and two new committee members welcomed: Juliet Wells will be taking over as Membership Secretary, and Alison Smith has also joined.  They were both warmly welcomed.

Ruth Battersby, Senior Curator of Costume and Textiles for the Norfolk Museums Service then presented a really fascinating and detailed run down of developments and acquisitions by the service over the past year, with many lovely photographs to illustrate these.  Happily, the majority of the textiles collection, which had to be moved out of its home at Shirehall behind the Castle several years ago for the storage space to be updated and made fit for purpose, has now been, or is about to be, returned to its new improved home. Ruth had an enormous amount to report, but previously less publicised key points of interest to members certainly included the two 1920s dresses owned by Gladys Lovett which have been conserved with funds from the C&TA and are now on display as part of the wonderful 1920s exhibition at the Museum of Norwich at the Bridewell. Other items purchased by the C&TA for the service include a Harmers sample pattern book, two dresses from Norwich company Dove, and a Norwich Leno shawl. Ruth said that the legacy of the expertise offered by the C&TA is often evident when people donate shawls to the museum, and bring letters dated from the 1990s signed by Pamela Clabburn and / or Helen Hoyte that testify to their authenticity.

Another important piece of news that Ruth had to share was that the Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery is one of six finalists for the shortlist for the Art Fund Museum of the Year Award 2026, the world’s largest museum prize.  We will all await the results with our fingers crossed, but the competition is very fierce!

Finally, Ruth also reminded us that she is busily putting the final touches to the David Shenton exhibition due to open on 18th July 2026. David is a local activist, cartoonist and artist, and this is bound to be a colourful, exciting event!

After the formal meeting, we were treated to a wonderful talk by Holly Sandiford of the 'Art at Work' organisation.  For the past three years Holly has been running a creative project supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and based at the Museum of Norwich.  This focused on promoting wellbeing through creativity, and Holly worked with a group of women to respond to the Norwich textiles in the collection of the Norfolk Museum Service.  Inspiration was provided by a wide range of textiles, garments and accessories from the collections, studied in chronological order over the three years of the project, ranging from the uniforms of Standard Bearers and Whifflers (ceremonial attendants who helped to manage civic events in Norwich including the annual Lord Mayor's procession), an enormous counterpane made from Norwich shawls, a worsted pattern book from the 1790s, and Dutch skirts made from highly valued worsted fabric exported from Norwich. C&TA members have also been involved with supporting the project: ex-Chair Joy Evitt and Geoffrey Squires Bursary Winner Michael Nix have both given talks for their groups.

Holly explained that the success of this scheme has exceeded expectations.  It has involved not only those attending weekly over the three years, but alongside that also 9 additional groups of students completing shorter 8 week courses - three during each year of the project. Students have also spent a significant amount of time working at Barrington Farm in Walcott, an independent day services centre for adults with learning difficulties and additional complex needs, and the work produced there was stunning.  Many students involved in the project have already arranged to continue meeting and working together when the funding ceases, and several have gone on to further study.  Sarah, who took part in the project and accompanied Holly, has now been accepted for a post-graduate course at The Art Depot in Norwich. It was wonderful to see examples of the beautiful art work produced by the students, and to be inspired by the joy and increased self-confidence that such creative projects had brought to the lives of people struggling with their wellbeing.  It has also provided another way in which the costume and textiles treasures that belong to the Museum Service and which are often funded with money raised by the C&TA can be shared with the wider public and given a new and very real purpose in our community.

Sarah's beautiful dress was inspired by worsted pattern books

Above and right, other work by students on the project

​Further information about Art At Work can be found in Instagram at @artatworknorwich