Past Futures funding has been awarded to 13 community organisations across the Isle of Wight for its second round of grants. This major initiative, a partnership between Creative Island, HIWCF, and The National Lottery Heritage Fund, delivers vital investment to safeguard and celebrate the Island’s unique, everyday histories.
A remarkable era of The Bay is set to be revealed through the incredible Edwardian-era photographs of the town’s pioneering photographer and Chief Fire Officer, James Dore. To bring these images to life, a master craftsman will be commissioned to build a bespoke, travelling exhibition cabinet. Alongside the travelling display, there will be a permanent exhibition at the Broadway Centre and a new local heritage leaflet mapping the historic scenes. The initiative is a partnership project between The Common Space, Isle of Wight Heritage Service, Boojum&Snark, Sandown Town Council, and the Bay Heritage Champion.
Bay Heritage Champion commented
“We must all be grateful to the Isle of Wight Heritage Service for preserving so many of James Dore’s precious negatives from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His photographs give us a unique record of Sandown and the Bay area’s past. The award of this grant and Sandown Council’s invaluable support mean Dore’s work will reach new generations at the Broadway Centre and beyond”.
Sandowns Deputy Mayor, Cllr Joan Solomon added
“Sandown Town Council are delighted to be a part of this bid. These evocative photographs really bring to life a key part of our history. We are particularly pleased to be physically linked into this project by hosting the permanent collection.
It is so encouraging to see the Wight Aviation Museum and the Time Nor Tide Players, working on music hall and pier history, have also been awarded grants in this round.
We are developing a momentum that is gradually moving Sandown forward.”
For more information and a full list of projects, please visit https://creativeisland.org/13-more-heritage-stories-will-come-to-light-through-the-past-futures-fund/
