New exhibition at Roe Valley Arts Centre explores the changing Binevenagh landscape
A new free exhibition ‘Threads and Stitches of our Changing Landscape’ has opened in Roe Valley Arts and Cultural Centre.
A collaboration between the Binevenagh and Coastal Lowlands Landscape Partnership Scheme, Causeway Coast and Glens Museum Services and Conflict Textiles, generously funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the exhibition was opened by the Mayor on Friday, 7th July 2023 and explores the changing environment and land use in the Binevenagh area.
The Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens, Councillor Steven Callaghan said: “I’m delighted to officially open this wonderful exhibition showcasing how the beautiful and diverse landscape of Binevenagh has been used over the years.
“It’s important to recognise the challenges to communities within the local environment and Council, alongside Binevenagh and Coastal Lowlands Landscape Partnership Scheme and Conflict Textiles, is highlighting the many ways in which communities have adapted to these changing landscapes.
“I’d encourage everyone to come along and see both the exhibition and indeed the local area for themselves.”
The exhibition explores the historic and current land use in the area, highlighting initiatives being implemented by the Binevenagh and Coastal Lowlands Landscape Partnership Scheme through partnerships with local communities, farmers and organisations who help restore and improve the environment for future generations.
Dr Jim McGreevy, Northern Ireland Committee Member at The National Lottery Heritage Fund said: “We are excited to support Binevenagh Landscape Partnership in the wealth of activities that they undertake in caring for and promoting the heritage of the stunning landscape thanks to money raised by National Lottery players.
“It’s wonderful to see the collaborative nature of this exhibition mixing objects from the museum collections with those loaned by the public. This summer we are celebrating #HeritageIsOpen, a campaign to highlight opportunities to interact with heritage across the UK and would encourage people to visit this exhibition and if interested sign up to the accompanying workshops.”
Included in the exhibition are objects and artefacts, such as old farming tools, postcards and pamphlets from the local museums’ collections; the display will also include some objects kindly on loan from members of the public.
Grace McAlister, Historic Environment Project Officer with the Binevenagh & Coastal Lowlands Landscape Partnership Scheme, added: “It’s fantastic to have objects loaned by the public included, which have really brought the exhibition to life to showcase the wonderful landscape of Binevenagh.
“This unique landscape has changed so much over the years as a result of both human intervention and environmental changes and we hope the exhibition shows peoples’ response to these changes, while also highlighting both the threats and benefits that come with land use change.
“We would love local groups or individuals to come along to the workshops in the autumn to create their own textiles which reflect the Binevenagh landscape.”
A selection of curated arpilleras (brightly coloured patchwork pictures made predominantly by groups of women) from the Conflict Textiles collection will also be on display, offering further insight into how global communities respond to changes in the environment and landscape.
This free exhibition is one not to be missed, from airfields to cultivation, turf cutting to wind turbines, the wider Binevenagh area – stretching from Ballykelly to Articlave – is a colourful patchwork of activity which charts how the landscape has been used by people across thousands of years.
‘Threads and Stitches of our Changing Landscape’ will run until Saturday, 21st October 2023, with guided tours available on Monday, 7th August at 2pm and Thursday, 24th August at 7pm. You can book a tour via eventbrite.
In the autumn, artist-led workshops will guide people to create their own textiles which reflect local environmental issues and the changing Binevenagh landscape.
For more information on the project or to get involved in the accompanying workshops or tours, contact Grace McAlister grace@ccght.org
The Binevenagh & Coastal Landscape Partnership is a five-year project funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and coordinated by the Causeway Coast and Glens Heritage Trust.
Conflict Textiles is home to a large collection of international textiles, exhibitions and associated events, all of which focus on elements of conflict and human rights abuses. Conflict Textiles is an ‘Associated Site’ of CAIN (Conflict Archive on the INternet) at Ulster University, Northern Ireland. The collection is mainly comprised of arpilleras, quilts and wall hangings. Making visible the struggle for the disappeared remains at the very core of the collection.
PHOTO : CCGBC Mayor Councillor Steven Callaghan launching the exhibition
PHOTO Attendees at the exhibition launch
PHOTO : Deborah Stockdale and Marlene Milner (textile artists)
PHOTO : Roberta Bacic (Conflict Textiles), Marlene Milner (textile artist), CCGBC Mayor Councillor Steven Callaghan, Grace McAlister (CCGHT), Jamie Austin (CCGBC Museum Services)
PHOTO : Grace McAlister (Historic Environment Project Officer, CCGHT)
PHOTO : Roberta Bacic (Conflict Textiles curator)
