Mine is Yours art installation opens to celebrate the past, present and future of Pool

Contemporary artist Laura Smith is set to open an intriguing and inspiring exhibition at The Bassett Institute at the heart of the Heartlands Pool Village scheme on Tuesday, 24 March.

The exhibition is the result of five months research in to the history, heritage and stories associated with the area and the people who lived and worked there. ‘Mine is Yours’ is inspired by people and place and investigates stories and memories of life in Pool, both past, present and future.

Since September Laura has collected over twenty fascinating stories and memories, many of them from ex-miners from the area. Ahead of the exhibition Laura is working with young people at Pool Business and Enterprise College to put the finishing touches to her creative work.

The exhibition is open from March 24 until 29 and is open from 2pm - 6pm weekdays, 10am -6pm on Sat 28, and 11am - 4pm on Sun 29 ‘Mine is Yours’ is part of the Mining Landscape project, a project of Aune Head Arts with Heartlands and the Tamar Valley AONB.

Alongside Laura’s work, year five pupils from seven local schools are busy recalling their experiences of growing up and living in the area and speaking to older generations in their family to learn about their memories.

The stories that are gathered will help form part of the Heartlands Social History archive which will be accessible to all of the commissioned artists working on the project. The stories will enable the artists to gain inspiration and base their ideas on real accounts and experiences of the area.

All the 220 pupils involved with the story gathering will exhibit their work at a celebration event on March 24, from 9:30am- 12pm at Carn Brea Leisure Centre. The event will be open to parents, relatives and the public and will be a showcase of all the stories and memories of the area.

Heartlands is planned to transform Cornwall’s most derelict urban area into a truly inspirational cultural landscape. The project became a reality last year after receiving a £22.3 million grant from the Big Lottery Fund’s Living Landmarks programme – the only project in England to be awarded Living Landmarks funding.

The development will create a unique setting for a range of activities that are essential for the area’s social regeneration. Specific elements of the project include a new park and gardens area, one of the largest adventure playgrounds in the south west, exhibition and event areas, artist studios, a restaurant and residential housing.