“One in eight people are employed in high tech functions in Derby – four times the national average.”

The Silk Mill represents a unique connection to moments and movements that changed the world. It is part of what will be a new organisation that includes the world’s largest collection of work by the 18th century artist Joseph Wright of Derby. Wright’s legacy to the city is one of the world’s greatest insights into the fusion of Enlightenment and technological revolution at the birth of the world’s first industrial nation. The newly refurbished Joseph Wright Gallery opens at the Derby Museum and Art Gallery on 25 February, where there will be activities for all to participate in.

The old Industrial Museum within the Silk Mill was mothballed in April 2011 – a response by Derby City Council to a challenging financial climate, but also a strategic approach to re-thinking the way that the building could inspire people to experiment, create, and play their own part in shaping the world.� �

Hannah Fox has, as the Community Project Director, been working with partners, volunteers, businesses and local organisations through a period of consultation and experimentation to develop a new concept for the ground floor of the Derby Silk Mill. The experimental programming sits within the context of community engagement and reflects the themes of engineering, creativity, heritage, technology etc. Examples include:

Derby Makers�

Derby Makers provides a physical space for makers and shakers to come together, it’s for people who like to make things: electronics, robotics, craft, metalwork, woodwork, programming, art and anything creative! There is an online Google group called Derby Makers, enabling the community to inform and share – even if they can’t attend events.�The aim for Derby Makers is to engage and enable people who are passionate about making, through sharing their current projects, learning something new from others and generally celebrating their amazing wealth of knowledge and skills – and the vast array of online resources that exist. We hope that the group will become self-facilitating and we are certainly well on the way to this with new members joining regularly. Nottingham Hack Space has been instrumental in setting the group up and is fantastically supportive. After their initial visit to the Silk Mill in September, their enthusiasm for the proposed project was overwhelming. Between September and December 2011 the group has met five times on Tuesday evenings making anything from pinhole cameras to soldering as well as running programming workshops using the Adafruit.com POV.v3 kit to make a MiniPOV, an electronic device that uses the same principle of Persistence of Vision which you can program so that ultimately you can write with light.

If Derby Makers sounds like the thing for you please come along and get involved. Follow @derbysilkmill or�

@derbymakers on twitter to get updates or join the Derby Makers Google group groups.google.com/group/derby-makers to help shape Derby Makers’ future. On the group you can post questions, suggest future activities you are organising or even something you want others to help you put together.

Holy Smokes!

The four members of the Derby born music and art collective Holy Smokes! are passionate about bringing new and diverse music and art projects to the city.�

Knowing that Derby has so much to offer the group are keen to promote the city and its unique spaces. After a visit to Derby Silk Mill the Holy Smokes! felt inspired to create something exciting that would use the venue in new ways and engage people in enjoying its potential.

Two successful events have happened with a third scheduled for 27 January, Holy Smokes! are growing. Hosting the likes of local artists Emphemetery and Slow Season, along with acts from outside of the city including Hookworms and FTSE 100. Currently in the process of construction, their third event poster is being cross-stitched by a local graphic designer. Cross-stitching naturally lead to a craft themed evening, setting up makers in the vintage lounge of the Silk Mill.�

They have set a high standard for others, generating requests to use the fantastic space and hype as to when their next event will be. Using Derby Silk Mill as an inspirational base, the group hope to build a city and regional reputation for hosting new and exciting talent in such an innovative space.

This is absolutely in line with the ambition of creating and developing a space that people can use, enjoy and help shape, as the concept for Derby Silk Mill is grown. However, it is reliant on many volunteers and ideas – with people putting either their time or their resources in to help it happen. If you are interested in finding ways to help grow a programme of events, clubs, workshops etc. that can help sustain the efforts so far and expand them even further, please get in touch with Hannah Fox on�

hannah@derbysilkmill.org�

or call 01332 641901