Cotton Culture – the exhibition
Cotton Culture is a heritage project which explores how textile mills, people and traditions combine to create local heritage. Volunteer researchers searched online national and local archives, poured over historical newspapers, deciphered academic papers, and scoured hundreds of archived images. A number of guest speakers added another layer of knowledge with their expertise in local history, their passion for local culture, and insights into existing but hidden traditions.
The exhibition, comprising of interpretation panels sited on the outside of Vale Mill is the outcome of the artists’ creative responses to themes or ideas within the research.
We learned about some of the history of Vale mill and its occupants and how we are connected to its predecessors and its legacy within the wider textile heritage. We also learned that Mossley’s past success in textile production required not just the efforts of local workers but the labour of people and raw materials from across the globe. Workers here and afar were connected and impacted when decisions taken thousands of miles away directly shaped their livelihoods often casing severe hardship.
But it wasn’t all hard work, chance to celebrate on the street, to make music, dance and sing were enthusiastically enjoyed by thousands each year. Global Grooves is inspired by local traditions, global connections and cultures to create Carnival that we hope the mill workers before us would have embraced. We invite you to click on the images on our interactive map to discover more or better still come and walk around Vale Mill and see for yourself.
See Global Grooves heritage page here for videos, articles, interviews and more.
