Young Curators from Wales visited the Irish Linen Centre & Lisburn Museum recently as part of an exciting project exploring traditional craft skills across Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The visit formed part of the Communities of Making project, which brings together young people, artists, makers and museum professionals to explore heritage crafts including Irish linen damask weaving, Scottish heather thatching, and Welsh wood carving and tin making.
During their visit, the group toured the museum, explored collections in the Artefact Store and took part in a natural dyeing workshop. They also met Councillor Sharon Lowry, Chair of Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council's Communities and Wellbeing Committee.
Councillor Lowry said: "It was a pleasure to welcome the Young Curators to the Irish Linen Centre & Lisburn Museum and learn more about this inspiring project. Initiatives like Communities of Making help young people connect with their heritage while building relationships across communities and regions."
The Welsh visitors joined Young Curators from the Irish Linen Centre & Lisburn Museum to help develop ideas for a new travelling exhibition. Launching in Inverness in April 2027, the exhibition will showcase work created by young curators, artists, makers and museum staff from across the three partner regions before travelling to Wales and then opening in Lisburn in October 2027.
Communities of Making is delivered through a partnership between CofGâr Carmarthenshire Museums & Arts Service, High Life Highland's Highland Folk Museum and Inverness Museum & Art Gallery, and the Irish Linen Centre & Lisburn Museum. The project is part of Going Places, a £5.36 million UK-wide museum touring and co-creation programme launched by Art Fund in 2025.
Going Places is an Art Fund programme made possible with major support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and The Julia Rausing Trust, with additional support from a generous group of trusts, foundations and individuals. The Communities of Making network is supported directly by the Swire Charitable Trust and other generous supporters.