MUD
Phase 1: Research and Development 2011-2012
The aim of the research and development phase was to explore the key themes around (1) the history of the school, what it meant to individuals and the community, its place in the community and how it had shaped lives; (2) the natural and built environment specifically the histories woven into the fabric of our buildings, our memories and even the earth beneath our feet and to explore how this might be translated into a future structure and ways people might interact with it.
A programme of workshops set out to use creative processes and interventions enabled participants to explore, imagine and reflect rather than to ‘teach’ new art skills. A temporary structure was created by 30 Bird and Public Works in the courtyard at St Matthew’s School, creating an alternative sheltered workshop space. Teaching and non-teaching staff, current and past pupils, parents, grandparents or guardians, individuals and local community groups were invited to participate in the varied programme of creative interventions.
Funded by Arts Council England, Cambridgeshire County Council and Cambridge City Council.
Phase 2: The Factory 2013-2014
The Factory at StMatthew’s Primary School, Cambridge was launched in Nov 2013. Commissioned by Cambridgeshire County Council, it is a permanent physical structure with public access that encourages users to be creative, play, explore and be curious about their sense of place, the past and the future. This flexible framework will be designed to be augmented by objects providing an ever-changing number of components that enable users to engage in imaginative play and re-interpretation of space.
The ambition is to encourage people to see the space not just as a traditional playground, but also as a place to bring people together to explore, create and share. 30 Bird will lead on a curated programme of workshops and events in, on and around The Factory on the theme of journeys, inspired by source material from the research and development phase.
Commissioned by Cambridgeshire County Council Public Art Commission
Supported by Cambridge City Council and St Matthew’s Primary School.
Phase 3: The Story of Things 2014
Over eight weeks, we engaged sixty Yr 5 pupils from St Matthew’s Primary School in Cambridge in playful workshops of creative writing to animate seemingly everyday objects culminating in an art installation at The Factory in the school playground.
Children from other local schools had the opportunity to take part in artist-led creative writing workshops at The Factory as part of the Cambridge Literary Festival.The Story of Things is a collaboration between 30 Bird, public works and Aid and Abet.