Dragons Den event in Blackpool

Only in Blackpool

Blackpool’s Treasure Trove 

Blackpool’s Treasure Trove is a two year Heritage Lottery and Blackpool Council funded project, which aims to bring people together by exploring Blackpool’s entertainment industry from 1950 to present day. The purpose of the project is to discover the stories of local people and link them to the fabulous Blackpool collections and bring them to life. Treasure Trove is running alongside the Blackpool Museum Project.

For the latest part of the project, three community groups have been working with professional artists to produce pop up museums.

Blackpool branch of the Embroiderers’ Guild have been working with artists Costumologists and our inspiration has been the tower and circus. It has been a really enjoyable and creative process working within this group with external artists.  We have all learned such a lot about Blackpool's Heritage and the entertainers and performers of the past. 

Our pop up is entitled “Only in Blackpool”

Working with materials and images from the archives at central library we have tried to focus on the past history of the circus.  Much of the content reflects our own memories from childhood and also the more unusual aspects of the tower.  For example, one of our members had vivid memories of being terrified by crocodiles in the circus, and the elephants exercising on the beach also feature along with happy memories of Charlie Cairoli and Paul.

These have been included in the final model which we saw this week at a Dragons Den style event, along with the designs from the other groups involved.  It is looking quite impressive. 

Construction of the final design of the pop up is under way and should be completed by mid July. This will then be available to display at any suitable sized space in Blackpool or beyond. We hope to see it in places such as libraries, schools, visitor centres, local shops and businesses to give positive publicity to Blackpool and its wonderful entertainment heritage. 

Of course we have to include some stitching in the project, and this will be in the form of Postcard Bunting, some of which we were able to display this week.  There are more works in progress which will be added to the final build.

To find out more about this exciting project and especially if you know of any spaces where the pop up could be put on display please visit:

 www. blackpoolstreasuretrove.wordpress.com