Exhibition in a Box
Exhibition in a Box is a portable, multi-sensory resource that explores the theme of silence in connection to the First World War. It has been designed by Head4Arts and has received funding through the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The exhibition contains objects designed to stimulate discussion and spark imagination about the different types of silence connected to the First World War, such as silence as an act of remembrance, a form of protection and a consequence of trauma.
The objects have been carefully chosen to promote curiosity, encouraging participants to fully explore each item to unlock their meaning. For example, objects include: a box full of poppy petals with an egg timer, a photograph embedded with augmented reality and a bundle of letters that tell a story.
Exhibition in a Box combines some of the local stories and creative material that has previously been collected by Head4Arts during the four-year commemoration of the First World War. Other objects and stories have been gathered with the support of heritage partners Gwent Archives, Glamorgan Archives, The Winding House, Cyfarthfa Castle Museum and Art Gallery and Amgueddfa Cymru National Museum Wales.
During the first stage of the project, 20 community groups from the South East Wales Valleys region took part in participatory workshops where they explored Exhibition in a Box with support from heritage consultant, Jane Barnes. Each group then worked with an artist to make creative work inspired by the exhibition. The creative work produced was displayed at community showcase events across the region and can be viewed on the Galleries page.
The second stage of the project has involved the creation of an Education Pack. We hope this will strengthen the legacy of the Exhibition in a Box project, enabling the resource to continue to help people learn more about the First World War and the extent of its long-lasting impact. Please contact us for further details on borrowing the exhibition for use with your class or community group.
