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Wildworks: Story Shelter

Felted engine houses on a hessian background produced as part of Wildworks' Story Shelter project
Cornish mine engines on a panel produced for Story Shelter | © Michael White

Story Shelter is one of seventeen artworks produced for Hello Stranger, a Cornwall-wide community engagement programme created by Wildworks and supported by National Trust places in Cornwall and the communities they serve.

About Story Shelter

Story Shelter is a work of visual art comprising panels and patches, handmade by local community groups and individuals from across Cornwall, all sewn together into a mighty tent. Techniques includes: applique, embroidery, felting, fabric pens, paints and more. 

Artist Bec Applebee worked with groups including: Shellal, Curious School, Black Voices Cornwall, Out of Sink, Buttons and Bobbins, and more. She hosted workshops at National Trust places across Cornwall with the Intercom Trust, NHS mental health services, Reach Out, South Hill Piecemakers, and local residents. Meanwhile, she invited anyone in Cornwall to make and send in a panel or a patch to add their story to the ever-growing shelter.  

The Hello Stranger programme is a celebration of the personal stories, culture and heritage that Cornish people feel proud to share as welcome with any stranger to their homeland. Through Story Shelter, Bec has sought to create a safe haven where this act of welcome and story sharing can take place. 

A workshop participant working on a Story Shelter panel
Working on a Story Shelter panel | © Alice Ealdmoor

Story Shelter on tour at National Trust places in Cornwall

Story Shelter exhibits in tent form at East Pool Mine throughout September 2024, after which the tent will be disassembled and panels is now being displayed at National Trust places across Cornwall during October and November.  

East Pool Mine
Story Shelter visited East Pool Mine from 31 August - 30 September.
Lanhydrock
Visit Story Shelter at Lanhydrock from 3 September-31 October.
Trelissick
Visit Story Shelter at Lanhydrock from 2 September-3 November.
Two large pieces of fabric decorated with brightly coloured pieces of fabric and pens
Panels made for Story Shelter | © Alice Ealdmoor

Our partners

Wildworks

Wildworks is the UK’s leading landscape theatre company. From their base in Cornwall they make site-specific theatre with communities locally, nationally and internationally. They reach audiences and collaborators all over the globe. Everyone is invited.

Visit website 

Members of Hayle WI creating for Wildworks' 'This is Me'. 6 people stand barefoot on grass with their back to the camera and their right hands raised

Wildworks events at National Trust places in Cornwall 

Discover events at National Trust places in Cornwall as part of the collaboration with Wildworks' Hello Stranger programme.

Nine performers in long skirts walking out of the sea onto a sandy beach
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National Trust collaboration with Wildworks in Cornwall 

National Trust will host multiple new artworks commissioned for the Hello Stranger community engagement programme led by Wildworks, the UK’s leading landscape theatre company, in an exciting new collaboration.  The programme will run across multiple National Trust places from July 2024 until November 2024, featuring works by Cornish artists and co-produced by communities across Cornwall.

Three sketches in frames set out on a shelf with a gold background
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Wildworks: 'This is Me' 

‘This is Me’ is one of seventeen artworks produced for Hello Stranger, a Cornwall-wide community engagement programme created by Wildworks and supported by National Trust properties in Cornwall and the communities they serve.