Connecting Weardale is an ongoing visual arts participation project funded through Northern Heartlands as part of the UK Great Place Scheme. The project is run by ScrapBank Recycled, an artists' network based in Weardale, County Durham. As a result of gaining Heritage Lottery & Arts Council funding, the project was designed to encourage residents of all ages, experiences and abilities who live in Weardale to collaborate on the creation of a textile wall map.

 

Connecting Weardale has been designed to encourage people from different communities across Weardale to come and enjoy working on a shared project that celebrates the rich cultural, industrial and farming heritage of the area. Once complete, the textile map panels will eventually be shared between the 4 areas involved, and can be displayed as a set of interlinking displays or as individual stand-alone maps. Through this creative process, we hope to enable communities to explore their landscapes, experiences and histories together and start conversations with their near neighbours about the past and the future.