The Share

Mik led photography workshops alongside documenting the club. Exhibited at Northern Rock Gallery - Woodhorn Museum 2015

In 1862 Rev Henry Solly created the CIU organisation of working men’s clubs across England and Scotland. The clubs were originally established by industrialists to control working people’s lives away from the mills, mines and factories. Henry Solly wanted them to be a place for ‘mutual helpfulness in various ways’ and set them up as independent entities managed by its’ members. The clubs grew in number and in confidence and Henry Solly left his position as Secretary in 1867 and by the time of his death in 1903 there were 992 clubs in existence.

CIU clubs are remarkable organisations founded on the principles of self improvement and support. The Share: A portrait of Guidepost CIU simultaneously explored the history of social clubs and re engage a community with their local cultural heritage. Artist Emily Taylor worked with members to create ceramics commemorating personal history and Mik led photography workshops alongside documenting the club. The members also worked with Andrea Hawkins to collate artefacts and memorabilia for an exhibition at Woodhorn Museum, Ashington in 2015. The club members were interviewed for Northumbrian Archives and they kindly donated plans and records to the public archive. In exchange for their generosity, Andrea Hawkins worked with the club to reinstate the idea of the Reading Room. In kind sponsorship from AkzoNobel, Tees Valley Music and SAGE transformed the old Committee Room in to an IT suite for member and their families.

The year long collaborative project was commissioned by bait (Creative People & Places, Arts Council England) SE Northumberland and the exhibition was funded by Woodhorn Museum and the Esme Fairbairn Curatorial Fellowship.

Curated by Andrea Hawkins