Remembering days gone by

Whilst trawling through photographs today, I came across several taken from those halcyon pre-pandemic days at the Museum, taken in 2018. This was the year when Carlisle  Castle hosted the touring Weeping Window sculpture as part of its nationwide tour. Six weeks of sunshine, visitors and long working days.

 The event saw free entrance to the Castle and over 140,000 visitors enjoying this unique opportunity in Carlisle. The Museum supported the tour hosting school visits and veteran tours. At the same time, we hosted our first open art Remembrance 100 exhibition. Funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, we worked with the fantastic Jamie Barnes, an exceptional freelance curator, to encourage Cumbrians to submit artworks for the exhibition. The result was a professional and creative response to Remembrance that was right and fitting in 2018, complimenting the external poppy display.

 All this seems such a time past, yet 24 months ago we were busy planning and working with English Heritage and 14-18NOW who toured the sculpture. Like all partnerships, there were teething problems and we had to learn how to work together but the end result proved positive and enabled visitors to enjoy the experience. 

 As I sit in my study at home, looking out the window at the sunny garden, with the quiet snoring of my cat beside me I wonder what will happen outside of this lockdown that we are currently all  experiencing. What will 'normal' look like and what impact will it have on our society? All our plans for 2020 are currently on hold, with three of us staff furloughed and little opportunity to develop ideas to take us forward this year.  The loss of income will hit us hard as we go into the summer, the height of our season. The hazy days of 2018, all seem such a long time ago but who would have thought that two years later we would all be quarantined. 140,000 visitors in 2018 and in 2020?  Who knows.

Comments

  1. Jamie BarnesJuly 17, 2020 at 7:31 PM

    I really loved working with you all on the Remembrance 100 exhibition. I'm sure happy days will return...

    ReplyDelete

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