FIRE & STEAM

The FIRE & STEAM arts and heritage project from Wadebridge Creative Hub, kindly supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Arts Council England and FEAST along with local partners, celebrates the unique railway heritage of Wadebridge & Bodmin – which boasted one of the earliest steam railways in the UK, linking the two towns from 1834 until 1978 – and aims to inspire and engage people of all ages with this wonderful local heritage through a diverse range of project strands. 

 

FIRE & STEAM: BIKELIGHTS 2019 comprised twin inclusive illuminated bicycle-based events in October 2019, when magical echoes of the old railway were traced in light, and linked Wadebridge and Bodmin through shared processive illuminated town-centre events and a host of inclusive community & schools activities and workshops.

 

The FIRE & STEAM: PLACE strand involved the 1st Year students at Bodmin College’s FdA in Digital Media Unit working with educators, designers and heritage experts on a specially-written FIRE & STEAM module between Oct 2019-Jan 2020, exploring the heritage of their local railway during special site visits and presentations before taking their ideas back into the studio to develop some exciting and diverse individual projects in their chosen media – including film, photography, installation, design and printed outcomes. More

The FIRE & STEAM HERITAGE TRAIL is a new printed fold-out leaflet, map and web presence, aimed at visitors and locals alike, which brings together and signposts as many elements of the original railway’s living heritage and archive sites as possible, in a very accessible form. We are also assisting local museums with the production of new exhibition display materials to help share this heritage more effectively with audiences. The print and displays hope to be published and made available by the end of the year. More

 

FIRE & STEAM: YOUNG INNOVATORS explores the principle that, no matter your age or background, you can have a good idea that uses the latest technology to help change your world. Staff and students at Sir James Smith’s Community School in Camelford are working with tech inventors and innovators to explore how the latest digital and manufacturing technologies might challenge real-world problems, in an exciting project that runs to the end of November 2020. More

Grant Sinclair at Sir James Smith's School with teacher Gerard McMahon as part of the Young Innovators strand of FIRE & STEAM

FIRE & STEAM: SCHOOLS & FAMILIES RESOURCES sees the development of two new downloadable resource packs, sharing the exciting heritage with new young audiences in a range of ways: one pack links with the Key Stage 2 curriculum, working with an education partner, Wadebridge Primary Academy & Bridge MAT; and the other, a family fun pack for 4-11 year olds to enjoy at home, is being developed in partnership with the team at Wadebridge and District Museum. More

 

FIRE & STEAM partner organisations include Wadebridge and District Museum, Bodmin & Wenford Railway, Concern Wadebridge, Bodmin College FdA Digital Media Unit, Wadebridge Dementia Action Alliance and IntoBodmin CIC.

 

FIRE & STEAM runs until the end of December 2020, offering exciting heritage engagements, creative activities and projects, and working with college students, schools and the community, and leaving a legacy of learning and resources behind once it is completed.

 

 

For more information you can contact producer Laura Martin on 07966 862630

FIRE & STEAM supporters