Art inspired by witch's broom

4:41pm Tuesday 2nd September 2008

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AN unusual exhibition inspired by a witch's broom is being staged in the Dales Countryside Museum in Hawes from Saturday.

Forty-five artists, most from Yorkshire, have submitted work on the theme of "Nest - a brush with the media."

They are following a concept that was developed by Bainbridge artist Janet Rawlins after she found a bird's nest in a besom - a broom made of heather that people identify as a witch's broomstick.

Museum manager Fiona Rosher said: "Janet approached us and asked if we would like to stage the exhibition and we thought it would be really interesting and a great opportunity to see so many different interpretations of one object.

"We also have a besom-making machine in our own artefacts exhibition and we thought it would be great to arrange for a besom maker to come and demonstrate his craft.

"The artists have come from all over the UK and are exhibiting a huge range of different techniques and artwork from photography and calligraphy to textiles and sculpture.

"There should be at least one artist in the museum at one time or another while the exhibition is running."

The event, which finishes on October 1, is being funded by Arts Council England and starts with a charity preview on Saturday (SEPT 6) from 3pm with a collection for the Woodland Trust.

Free activities have been planned at the museum, owned by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, to coincide with the exhibition.

An all-day, besom-making demonstration will take place on September 20 with two children's workshops being run on September 13 and 27 between 10am and noon involving craft activities and story telling and writing respectively.

For further information contact the museum on 01969-666210 or by email on hawes@yorkshiredales.org.uk.