June 2025

As part of our year of celebrating 50 years as a museum, Wheal Martyn Clay Works partnered with three local primary schools and two talented local artists to deliver the exciting ARTS LAB 2025 Project.

Arts Lab is a creative wellbeing programme by and for young people in Cornwall, delivered by HeadStart Kernow, Creative Kernow and Arts Well. Wheal Martyn's successful application for the funding was granted by FEAST.

The aim of this project was to address the mental and emotional health needs of young people and to connect them to their local communities, giving them visibility and an outlet for self-expression. For more info, visit https://feastcornwall.org/arts-lab/. 

Wheal Martyn commissioned two local artists to work with young people, to co-create a response to a museum visit. The artists, Jo Fitzgerald and Sally Crabtree, used music, drama, movement, art, creative writing and performance as a way to support pupils in expressing their ideas and creativity. The project gave pupils an opportunity to discover more about their heritage and the history of china clay, and find ways to share this with an audience through performance.

Gemma Martin, Education Officer at Wheal Martyn Clay Works, explained what was offered to the participating schools. “Each class came on a visit to Wheal Martyn, complete with a guided tour and interactive workshop exploring what life was like for clay workers in the 1900’s. This served as a source of inspiration for the creative activities back in school with the artists, Jo and Sally. The sessions in school used movement, drama, art, music and creative writing to build a performance piece and create a Pod Cast. I can’t believe what a fantastic job the pupils did! The Pod Cast is brilliant!"

74 pupils took part in the project from three local primary schools – Nanpean, Bishop Bronescombe and Lanlivery. The class teacher at Lanlivey School added “This was a fantastic project - an amazing opportunity to work with inspiring people; to work in different ways and to link to the history of the local area!  We would definitely do it again!”

Quotes from the young people:

“I thought I would hate the dancing. I thought that people were going to laugh at me. But they clapped and it was alright, and it made me more confident. I would like to do more of this. Maybe for longer as the lesson went quickly.” Boy, Lanlivery School

“I thought the museum wouldn’t be fun, but there was lots to do and learn. I’d like to do more of this and more of the poems and art!” Girl, Bishop’s Bronscombe.

“Doing this project brought history to life. I feel like I know how the kettle boy felt. I wouldn’t want to be him. People had hard lives back then." Boy, Nanpean School.

How did the project use the 5 Ways to Wellbeing?

The young people were supported to explore the 5 Ways to Wellbeing through the project - Connect; Be Active; Take Notice; Keep Learning and Give. 

Pupils were encouraged to ‘Take Notice’ through their visit to Wheal Martyn, experiencing the historical site and discovering what life was like for the clay workers through the interactive workshop. They had plenty of opportunity to ‘Be Active’ as they were encouraged to take part in all activities, including dance and movement tasks, and not worry about what others may think. The children were able to ‘Connect’ as they worked collaboratively with each other and with the artists. The museum visit and in-school workshops enabled the children to ‘Keep Learning’ as they were inspired by the project, discovering more about their own heritage and expressing it creatively.