Networks

In April 2001 the Cecil Higgins Art Gallery took part in a county-wide arts project co-ordinated by the Bedfordshire & Luton Arts Forum and awarded lottery funding by East England Arts. Taking Bedfordshire's identity as their theme, four venues ran artist-led workshops inspired by traditional county crafts and aimed at young people aged 14-17.

Twenty young people participated in the workshops held at the Cecil Higgins Art Gallery, led by artist Michael Brennand-Wood. Inspired by the beautifully hand-carved and decorated lace bobbins in the Gallery's collections, each participant created his or her own interpretation of a bobbin using a wide range of materials such as card, fabric, metal, plaster, wood and plastic. These were then hung and twisted from a central pillow just as real bobbins are hung in pairs from pins stuck into a lace pillow.

The finished artwork was displayed alongside work produced at the other venues - Bromham Mill, Luton Museum and Gallery and the Rufus Centre Flitwick - at an exhibition in Bedford Museum in August 2001. A fifth group of young people produced a video of the project with the help of Bedford Community Arts and this accompanied the exhibition.