Folk Float

The Egremont Folk Archive is an ambitious project to consider a new kind of museum for Egremont - a living museum that uses historic and contemporary creativity to document and sustain the unique culture of this area. A study is underway to establish if and how such a resource could develop in Egremont.
The MOBILE Folk Archive project aka Folk Float (pictured above) paves the way for this initiative with a new commission by art / architecture collective public works, to develop and realise an inspiring, thought-provoking and accessible Mobile Folk Archive to tour the region throughout summer 2007, displaying artifacts, collecting new ones from local people and engaging the public.

Here’s a workshop image of our 2nd hand float in the process of being customised by Formet in Cambs, with still a little way to go! We launched in early September 2007 and are touring the town and outlying villages as well as attending many local events including the Crab Fair....

Come and visit the Folk Float website here at www.folkfloat.org, where you can follow our progress and see what the Float has on show.
crab fair poster from 1936

Have a look at some of Public Works’ other work on www.publicworksgroup.net and
www.mobileporch.net
Or check out this nice site about Milk Floats in general
Download the commission details as a pdf

With thanks to the Merrett family for their ongoing support of the project Ban This participants at work <

This commission is an opportunity to lead the development of a contemporary vision of the regional museum. It will provide an innovatively curated and designed advance ‘public platform’ for the emerging Archive and - vitally - for the collection of more material from neighbouring museums, groups and individuals.

About the Egremont Folk Archive

The Egremont Crab Fair Archive Committee was set up in 2004 by a small group of enthusiastic local people with a particular interest in conserving and collating the unique artefacts and memorabilia of the 750 year-old Crab Fair, and in 2005 a successful Heritage Lottery Fund bid was made for a number of initiatives and part-funds this commission. Discussions with the Whitehaven Beacon Museum for curatorial representation on the Archive’s Board have been successful. More recently the scope of the Archive has broadened to include artefacts relating to other aspects of local industrial and social history. This commission has the opportunity to significantly inform the Archive’s future collection and curatorial policy, and to guide its engagement with contemporary practice in the arts.

Artists Jeremy Deller and Alan Kane have included documentation of the Crab Fair in their acclaimed Folk Archive, some of which will be housed on loan in the permanent Archive building.

Concurrently with this commission a feasibility study looking at the Archive building project is being undertaken by consultants on behalf of Egremont and Area Regeneration Partnership, West Lakes Renaissance and the Egremont Folk Archive Steering Group. It is expected that there will be dialogue between the study and this commission, and consequently that this project will help inform the future development of the Archive.

Indicative list of Egremont Folk Archive artefacts:

	Bank Cheque; An unused bankers cheque drawn on the Bank of York, Egremont branch, date unknown, unused Chq number A 24886 Purchased through Ebay.
	Crab Fair 99; Article from the News and Star newspaper, dated 1999, detailing the World Gurning Championships. Donated by the Woods Family.
	Necro; Letter from City University confirming the appearance and invoice of the Egremont rock group Necromandus in 1972 Purchased through Ebay.
	NFA War Memorial; Screenshot of a black and white silent film documenting the opening of the Egremont War Memorial in 1922. Donated by the National Film Archive.
	Pair of Gossware ceramics; A pair of 70mm high Gossware mugs depicting the Egremont Crest, date unknown Purchased through Ebay
	Pathe News Crab Fair newsreel; Screen shot of film depicting the cllimbing of the greasy pole at the traditional Crab Fair, date 1969. Purchased from Pathe News (ITN Source).
	Rent agreements; Original letting agreements for Scalegill Hall Farm, dated 1886 and 1905. Purchased through Ebay.
	Sale book; Full details of many parcels of land for sale around Egremont in October 1924, with town map. Purchased from anonymous local collector.
	1936 Crab Fair poster; Original advertising poster for the 1936 Crab Fair and Sports. Donated by D Banks.