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Heritage Space: Historic Pictures Around Cromer
A new outdoor exhibition to hit the streets of Cromer this winter.
From Fishermen and Kings to bathing belles and postcards, Cromer Artspace and Cromer Museum will be bringing a new exhibition to the streets of Cromer this winter, thanks to funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Building on the success of the collaboration with the National Gallery, Cromer Artspace have obtained £8120 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to work with 6 Cromer based community groups. The aim will be to produce 12 interpretation boards to be placed around the walls of Cromer, each featuring images from the museum's collection of over 31,000 historic photographs, postcards and watercolours.

The exhibition recognises the strong interest the community has with historic photographic collections. The community groups involved represent a diverse range of people from Cromer to help curate this exhibition: Queer Norfolk, About with Friends, Friends of Cromer Museum, Cromer Young Interpreters, Cromer Junior School and Merchants' Place.

Wayne Kett from the Norfolk Museum Services said "Like art, heritage is for everybody, and this project is part of our mission to develop strategies to enable a greater proportion of the community the opportunity to experience, enjoy, learn, and be inspired by it". Barry Meadows from Cromer Artspace added "By removing collections from the physical constraints of museum buildings and placing them outside we are removing all barriers to entry. Thanks to The National Lottery Heritage Fund and National Lottery players, everybody will have an opportunity to enjoy them, by blending heritage into spaces that people use to carry out their day to day lives we may set some on a journey towards greater engagement with heritage."

The project will be launched before Christmas with the first display outside the museum, it time for the annual New Year's Day free opening of the museum. The remaining displays will be hung at the end of January with a special launch at a free day at the museum on 3rd February. The museum will be open for a further 3 free days in February half term with the community groups on hand to discuss their involvement in the project.

The whole project will be supported by online interpretations of the images, with all members of the public encouraged to participate with their own thoughts, memories and interpretations. A leaflet will be available to explain the project, and postcards of some of the images will be available to buy at the museum shop.