Yearning for Heritage

I submitted Yearning for Heritage, a 10,000 word 'special project' as part of my PGCert Cultural Heritage Research. Yearning for Heritage looks at cultural place-identity in Swindon – a place much maligned as a cultural desert – the manipulation of cultural narratives, perceptions of heritage, post-war development, and tries to pin-point what is the spirit of the town. 

The essay's design is inspired by the 1960s local and national government reports that quantified Swindon's potential. Included are two of a series of artworks inspired by Reginald Lander's iconic 1962 Bath train travel poster. Neighbouring Bath is rightly seen as a heritage destination, whereas Swindon's claim to cultural heritage is both overlooked and limited to the industrial heritage of the railway works. There is more to be celebrated. There will be an exhibition of the posters at The Hop Inn, Swindon, from 28th February to 18th April 2027.

I have created 15 posters celebrating various unsing areas of Swindon, and am currently working on the sixteenth!