Acton Scott Farm to stage special clay-building workshops

Press release - 7 June 2007

Acton Scott Farm to stage special clay-building workshops

Acton Scott Historic Working Farm will be giving visitors a rare chance to learn about one of the oldest and most environmentally-friendly building techniques in the world later this month, when it stages a series of special workshops – one of only three venues in the West Midlands to do so.

Clay building technique (CBT) draws on ancient building methods, many of which are still employed across the world, using local materials such as clay, straw and water. It is both sustainable and carbon-neutral.

The two-hour CBT workshops are being held on 15, 16, 17 and 19 June as part of The Natural House, an art and architecture project in sustainable building. They will teach visitors about the building materials and give them the chance to make their own bricks.

The workshops are free for visitors to Acton Scott Farm, and are being held to mark National Architecture Week 2007, which runs from 16-24 June.

Nigel Nixon, Head of Shropshire County Council’s Museum Service, said: “The workshop leaders have recently returned from Poland, where they have received training in building in clay from Polish architect Wojciech Brzeski. He has developed a modern technique for brick manufacture and construction inspired by a long-term study of clay building techniques across many countries and cultures.

“This project is very much in sympathy with the museum’s interest in preserving traditional, local building techniques, and participants will have the chance to compare the Polish technique with that carried out routinely at the museum.”

The workshops are part of a larger project which aspires to use the techniques learnt this year to build a full structure next year.

In addition, five artists will be commissioned to create new works exploring the materials used in clay building or the themes of sustainability and community. These commissions will take place in Birmingham, Coventry, Wolverhampton and Warwickshire, as well as in Shropshire.

One artist, Graham Peet, will be working at Acton Scott Farm on Saturday 16 June to create an instant photographic exhibition based around the theme of shelters. Visitors to the farm will be invited to take photographs, which will be considered for inclusion in the exhibition, which will be on display at Acton Scott Farm throughout National Architecture Week.

Barbara Craig, Shropshire County Council’s Cabinet member for community services said: “This is an exciting opportunity to bring another high profile, innovative arts project to Acton Scott Historic Working Farm. The museum has been involved in a number of skills exchanges with Eastern European craftspeople involved in traditional building techniques, and this project nicely combines the two strands of activity. I look forward to the next stage of the project in 2008.”

Anyone wishing to reserve a place on one of the CBT workshops should call (01694) 781306.

The project is being funded by the Arts Council.

ENDS

For further information, call Nigel Nixon, Head of Museum Service, Community Services, on (01694) 781306.
For media contact, call Gareth Proffitt, Communications Officer. Tel (01743) 252828.