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Opening of Hat Works
No comments on Opening of Hat WorksI attended the opening ceremony of Hat Works, the newly refurbished building on Guilford Street, Luton. One of the creative spaces operated by the Culture Trust Luton as part of the Hat District project. Heard a fascinating talk from the owners of the hat making business that had previously occupied the building. “Luton’s oldest hat factory has now been restored for the newest creative talent. Set within the stunning grade II listed building at 47…
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Visit to the Panama Hat Company
After a board meeting of the Culture Trust today I stopped in to visit the premises of the Panama Hat Company who are newly occupying a space in Hat House.
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Polly Apfelbaum: Any Dream Will Do
Poster works by the New York based artist Polly Apfelbaum on display in Luton town centre (and my wall).
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Switch on of Mark Titchner’s Beacon
This video is of the formal switch on of Mark Titchner’s Beacon in central Luton on 9 December 2016.
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As You Change So Do I
This autumn has seen the launch of As You Change, So Do I in Luton. This is a three year contemporary public realm arts programme commissioned by Luton Culture and led by Turner Prize nominee Mark Titchner. The programme is now well under way and the first art works have appeared in the town centre. I’ve been involved with Luton Culture for a long while now and I am beginning to feel that this might…
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Collecting Luton’s World War One stories
This project, recognising the 100th anniversary of the First World War, run by Luton Culture, with support from the Heritage Lottery Fund and in partnership with the University of Bedfordshire is collecting stories of Luton’s experience of the Great War with the family memories of people who live in the town today. It is looking for people to contribute the stories, and photographs and other artefacts, which will then be used in an exhibition at Wardown Park Museum…
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The details of how Luton Airport will fund charities in Luton this year
Details of the amounts that London Luton Airport Ltd will give to organisations in Luton as charitable donations in 2014/15 have been made available on their website.
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Wenlok jug back on public display at Stockwood Discovery Centre
Some good news from last week as the Wenlok Jug, a rare medieval bronze jug with historic connections to the town and the jewel of Luton’s museum collection, went back on display at the Discovery Centre after being stolen and then recovered last year. Not been to see it yet – but hope to soon.
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Council to decide on the future of Luton’s libraries
This evening (Monday 29 July 2013) the Executive of Luton Borough Council will consider the results of the recent public consultation on the future of the town’s library service and make some decisions on what shape it will take in the future. How libraries are provided in Luton is a little bit complicated, although I believe the system works well. Luton Borough Council has a statutory obligation to provide a library service for the town…
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Consultation on the future of Luton’s Libraries
Luton Borough Council are currently consulting on the future of the library service in Luton. In common with many other councils, given the current financial constraints, LBC is looking at ways to change the provision of libraries in Luton in order to find budget savings. In comparison to the savage cuts that libraries are facing in some places the proposals are relatively modest. Although they do mean that some parts of the Town will lose…
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Random Thoughts for 20th February 2013: Richard Briers, Caedmon and Ella Fitzgerald
This is the latest in my series of Random Thoughts posts with links, things found on the web and other stuff that has occurred to me between 12th February 2013 and 19th February 2013: The Liberal Democrats are the only fair tax party – Danny Alexander “In government, Labour increased tax on low income households; in government the Lib Dems have led the largest programme of tax cuts for working people for a generation. If…
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The Wenlok Jug
The best piece of news I heard last week was that the police had recovered the Wenlok Jug. In May of this year the Wenlok Jug, a large bronze medieval jug which is the prize object in the collection of Luton’s museum service, was stolen from the Stockwood Discovery centre. The theft made national news and later featured on BBC One’s Crimewatch programme. The theft was a severe blow to Luton Culture who were responsible…
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Chief Exec of Luton Culture is awarded an MBE
I am extremely pleased to see that Maggie Appleton, the Chief Executive of Luton Culture and my good friend, was awarded an MBE in the New Year’s Honours List yesterday. She was given the honour “For services to Museums and Heritage”. This is a thoroughly deserved recognition of not only her leadership of Luton Culture over the last few years, but also her role in establishing the success of the Stockwood Discovery Centre, and her…
