Cregneash 70th Anniversary Exhibition Home Is…

In 1938 the opening of Harry Kelly’s cottage established the National Folk Museum at Cregneash which has grown significantly since this time through further acquisition for the nation of traditional landscape and buildings in the southern meayll peninsula. For 70 years Harry Kelly’s single-storey thatched Manx cottage with its large dresser, chiollagh and simple bedroom has shown a traditional way of life typical of a Manx crofter and fisherman such as Harry Kelly.

To celebrate the 70th anniversary of the National Folk Museum Manx National Heritage is holding an exhibition about Homes and would like you to join in, by making a room in a shoe-box!

Kirsty Neate, Curatorial Services Officer for Manx National Heritage explained more:

“What we would like is for as many people as possible to think small and re-create their favourite room in miniature and tell us the story behind it. This room could be a real space that makes them feel “at home”. It could be their bedroom; their garden shed or even the cupboard under the stairs! Or they could really let their imagination run wild and dream up a fantasy room that defies convention and reality. We want them to show us where they live and what their dreams are made of!”

All of the ‘room in a shoe box’ entries will take centre stage in Manx National Heritages new ‘Home Is..’ exhibition which will open to the public at Church Farm Barn, Cregneash on Sunday 24th August 2008 as part of the 70th Anniversary Cregneash Gathering event. Running alongside the exhibition will be a public vote; where visitors will be invited to select their favourite ‘room in a shoe box’, with the winning entry becoming a part of the museum collection at Manx National Heritage!

If you would like to enter Manx National Heritage’s Home Is…exhibition then please bring your completed shoe-box rooms to the Manx Museum Douglas by Saturday 16th August along with a short story of no more than 100 words about your entry.

The exhibition will open at Church Farm Barn, Cregneash on Sunday 24th August 2008 and run until 26th September 2008; all ‘room in a shoe box’ entries will be available for collection from Cregneash on 27th & 28th September.