May half-term 2023

DOUBT SCHOOLS PROJECT

An ambitious, collaborative project to involve hundreds of local school children.

As part of a collaborative sculpture project, based around DOUBT, Anthony Gormley’s cast iron figure currently installed on the West Front of Wells Cathedral, children are making miniature versions, which will form part of a collection that will be displayed in and around the Wells Cathedral during May half term 24th May to 4th June 2023.

The project aims to give children the opportunity to develop their skills working with clay. The project will encourage and enable them to appreciate of a piece of work by a prominent, contemporary UK artist. They will learn specifically about the importance of space, and placement of a work and how that affects audience interpretation. The project hopes to give children a sense of how every small part (their part) of a collective project is also an essential part, reinforcing an idea of collaboration, community and common purpose.

Hundreds of children, from many local schools, have been working on individual figures and each of these will eventually become a small, anonymous, but essential part of the installation.

Gormley chose ‘Niche 338’ on Wells Cathedral very carefully. The position and location of DOUBT is a fundamental part of the piece. He states:

‘I have chosen this niche on the West Front of Wells Cathedral for its exposed position and visibility: the book at the end of the bookshelf. Doubt is literally on edge and teeters uneasily out of its niche, one foot perilously off the ledge and one shoulder jutting forward.
I wish to make a space for a contemporary state of mind. Perhaps paradoxically, by using a rigorous abstract language, my primary purpose is to engage the eye and body of the viewer in empathic projection, to consider
our time in the shelter of other times.’

It is with this sense of space in mind that children will take their figures home. While the figures themselves are a response to the physical sculpture by Gormley, we would also like to see children’s responses to the location.

Children are asked to photograph their figures in a place of their choice. The reason for the choice could be anything, and there is no wrong or right! It could be a favourite place, a special place, somewhere familiar or unfamiliar, somewhere dramatic or mundane. The only rule! No people should be in the photographs!

Saturday 28th May - Sunday 12 June 2022

The city of Wells celebrates

The Platinum Jubilee of

Her Majesty The Queen

Freelance photographer Jason Bryant has been a photographer since 1997.  The 48-year-old from Shepton Mallet began his career working for the Mid Somerset Series of newspapers and now supplies regular content to the national press. Taking photographs of the Queen and the Royals has always been a regular part of his job. In this exhibition he shows a selection of some of those moments from twenty years of her reign.

“I love the Queen, what an amazing lady! The effect that she has on the general public has to be seen to be believed; the excitement generated during a visit is only equalled by an American president, which usually has more helicopters, more flashing lights and the security staff look more scary.

I would like to wish the Queen a very Happy Jubilee!”

Call My Art Bluff

Saturday 25th September 2021

150 guests filled Cedars Hall for an evening of entertainment and delicious food as the panel of experts and journalists (known for telling the truth) told tall tales, mixed with fascinating art history and bluffed the audience with their entertaining descriptions of priceless artefacts - these included the Spire from Croscombe Church, a fake Matisse and artwork from the child prodigy Peggy Somerville. The winning table each won a bottle of 'Fitz' ! or a bottle of English prosecco!

The evening raised an incredible £11,500 which will be split between The Lawrence Centre and the Project Factory project to support the education initiatives and bursaries related to the installation of DOUBT 2020. The event was generously sponsored by Hauser & Wirth and had enormous support from friends, local businesses and organisations from the community network.

Wake Up Wells Community Day - the Big Picnic

Saturday 24th July 2021, 11am to 4pm

Project Factory is joined by Wells Cathedral, Bishop's Palace, Rotary Club of Wells, Fresh and Good and funded by the National Lottery Community Fund to bring you a celebration to mark the relaxation of lockdown regulations - a Big Picnic!

Sew Buntiful Wells

Monday 17th to Sunday 27th June 2021

In collaboration with Wells City Council Covid Recovery Group, Project Factory CIC is delighted to help organise the Sew Buntiful Wells, project in kindness to brighten up the city after a long dark period of lockdown.

Please see the Wells Community Bunting Project facebook page for pictures of our lovely city covered in bunting.

Wake Up Wells Lantern Parade 2020

The lantern parade is one of the highlights of our social calendar here in the city of Wells and it is organised by Project Factory in Partnership with Somerset Skills and Learning.

Take a look at this beautiful film of our event back in 2020 and get in touch if you’d like to help us with putting together our next illuminating event!