Lakeland Arts’ award-winning MEND programme unveils its next exciting development.

This summer a custom transit van will be touring around Cumbria delivering creative workshops inspired by the Lakeland Arts collection.

The MEND team will also be gathering the stories and experiences of people in the county to add to the Lakeland Arts oral history archive.

In 2021 the project received the Fantastic For Families Award for Audience Impact and Innovation. 

Now in its second year, MEND is a community-focused project introduced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, aimed at connecting people through creative collaboration and shared experiences.

The pandemic has changed the way all of us live; from how we work, learn and spend our free time, to how we feel and interact with others.

Lakeland Arts commissioned Matt Kelly of Plaey workshop to design a bespoke interior that was practical and multifunctional, converting the van into a mobile museum and making space.

To transform the exterior of the van, outsider artist Steve Chapman was commissioned to create a playful set of drawings depicting people, objects and traditions that are synonymous with Cumbria.

The colourful illustrations include Alfred Wainwright, Stan Laurel, Margaret Fell, Cumberland wrestlers and sheep farming alongside Lakeland Arts’ venues. Keep an eye out for the van which will be calling at villages, schools and libraries, as well as agricultural shows and music festivals, starting with EskFest this weekend.

"The MEND project grew out of a discussion around the act of mending, about how it can be an act of repairing and making. 

"Making mends objects, minds, communities, and hearts,’ comments Amy Stretch -Parker Wellbeing Producer at Lakeland Arts.

Stretch-Parker added: "Everyone is creative in their own way.

"By taking our MEND van out to different locations we are aiming to deepen our understanding of what people in Cumbria need and want from our arts and heritage venues.

"This will help us to keep improving what we offer and make lasting connections county wide.

"Our exciting oral history project will ensure that contemporary culture and stories of this region are preserved for future generations."

Arts and heritage charity Lakeland Arts has an extensive collection of Cumbrian art, artefacts and archives in its collection.

It is the custodian of four unique cultural attractions; Abbot Hall and Lakeland Museum in Kendal, Blackwell – the Arts & Crafts house in Bowness and the newest building to join the collection, Windermere Jetty Museum on the shores of the lake.

Stretch-Parker is keen to encourage more people to get involved saying: "MEND is about doing things together, sharing and learning from each other, and hearing each other’s stories.

"We look forward to seeing you at one of many events or come and find us parked up at Blackwell – the Arts & Crafts house every Thursday in July.

"We would like to involve more community events, groups, museums, libraries and schools in this exciting tour, so please get in touch with learning@lakelandarts.org.uk to get MEND on the Move to visit your venue or event."

To find out more about where you can catch the MEND van visit the what’s on section of lakelandarts.org.uk/whats-on