Treasure Trail with a 21st Century Twist

National artists Steve Manthorp and Shanaz Gulzar have been working with the North West Sound Archive to use their vast collection of recordings in new and exciting ways.

Working with the staff at the archive and local writing groups, the pair have developed a treasure trail around Clitheroe Castle grounds with an unusual twist. The trail is made up from QR tags that when scanned by your mobile phone play clips of local writers and poets reciting a piece written especially for the spot that you are standing. QR tags are the square barcode looking symbols that you see in all sorts of places from adverts to gas bills, and to read the code all you need to do is download a QR tag reader to your smart mobile phone.

Alongside the trail, the artists have developed a range of QR tag jewellery that will be on sale in the museum shop. Made from squares of wood, each piece is etched with a QR tag that when read plays a sound gem from the archive, making the wearer a travelling exhibition for the sound archives collections!

The QR tag trail will be in Clitheroe Castle grounds for the month of May alongside Ribble Valley’s Mayfest celebrations, and the jewellery will be for sale in the museum shop from the 2nd of May. It is free to explore the trail, and you can pick up a trail map from the museum shop or the Platform Gallery.

This project is part of Creativity Works ReVisit programme of work that is taking place with museums and heritage sites across Pennine Lancashire and is funded by Renaissance North West and Arts Council England.
 

Notes

1. There is a photo/ interview opportunity on Friday the 6th of May at 11am in Clitheroe Castle grounds to celebrate the launch of the work.
2. Clitheroe Castle and Museum received a Royal opening by HRH The Duke of Gloucester in June 2009 following a £3.5million refurbishment funded by Ribble Valley Borough Council, the Heritage Lottery Fund and several private and public sector partners. Clitheroe Castle is owned by Ribble Valley Borough Council and the museum is managed by Lancashire County Council.
3. More information about the project can be found on the project website www.soundgems.co.uk
4. This project is part of ReVisit programme, an arts and heritage engagement project that is running throughout Pennine Lancashire during spring 2011.
5. Creativity Works is an initiative co-ordinated by the Arts Officers of Pennine Lancashire, Lancashire County Council, Creative Lancashire, Curious Minds, Arts Council England and Regenerate Pennine Lancashire.

Contact details:

Laura Rodgers
Creativity Works Arts Engagement Officer
laura.rodgers@blackburn.gov.uk
01254 667130
07896 272045

Elaine Lees
Creativity Works Communications Officer
Elaine.lees@blackburn.gov.uk
01254 667130