Making The Trent Valley Cabinet of Curiosities
By exploring what the river meant to each of us, we started to understand what the river might need protection from and how it could be protected. As regular users of the Trent’s tributary the Sow - the group had seen first hand the impact pollution and rubbish was having on the health of the river - often taking part in ‘Paddle Clean Ups’
The group made paper talismans and wrote messages inside them to attract good fortune to the river. They then worked with artist Leone Davis to make ceramic amulets to protect the river from harm. You’ll find some of their messages - alongside those from other groups inside the Cabinet - if you visit the exhibition.
In week 2 we started to develop more of the back story of the river protector and were joined by costume maker Eve Travis to help us start designing the protector costume.
The group made costumes from paper and then went outside to create the ritual movements of the protector. The group came up with movements representing different symbolic words - ‘Protect, Grow, Defend, Offer’ - The movements the young people came up with were used by Emily to create a series of photographs - showing the river protector doing the different symbolic actions. When visiting the cabinet you’ll be able to see these moves by putting on the River protector mask!
The detail behind the mask and costume design here…..
From July 2026-September 2026 B. ARTS ran creative workshops with a range of different groups and individuals to help create a magical cabinet exploring stories of the River Trent. On this page you’ll find more detail on the workshops, research and different creative approaches that went into the creation of the cabinet.
The cabinet is a magical object that bears marks of lying undiscovered at the bottom of the River Trent, or perhaps it even somehow emerged from the riverbed itself!
This ‘other-worldly’ cabinet from the depths of the Trent, opens up to reveal different compartments … each revealing a different story of Trent Valley.
Emily Andrews and The Stafford and Rugeley Sea Cadets
protection, reverence and ritual
Artist Emily Andrews was interested in exploring how folklore and ritual can impact how we see our waterways - changing our relationship with the river to one of stewardship and connection. Drawing inspiration from folk traditions from the UK and around the world Emily set out to work with local young people to create a new folklore character - to protect and bring good fortune to the River Trent.
UPCOMING WAYS TO GET INVOLVED
Across July our artists will be working with groups in Stoke on Trent and Stafford
We will also be running a drop-in open workshop as part of August Climate Cafe - Saturday 1st August 10-3pm and scheduling some additional open workshops more details coming soon.
In the meantime! Transforming the Trent Valley are running a series of River Monitoring Walks you can sign up for here
This project has been commissioned by Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, as part of the Trent Valley Past and Present Project. It is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund, with thanks to National Lottery players.
Find out more about the wider project here: https://www.thetrentvalley.org.uk/projects/tvpp/
