Celebrate the restoration of historic Tynemouth Station at the 2012 Heritage Skills Festival!

English Heritage is funding HSI to run a Heritage Skills Festival on 22nd, 23rd and 24th June this year, to celebrate the completion of grant-aided works on the glass and steel canopy at Tynemouth Station. There are many different ways you can be involved in making the skills festival fantastic:

Last year’s festival attracted over 2000 people, with several craftspeople reporting job opportunities being generated as a direct result of their participation. The Heritage Skills Festival is an excellent opportunity to raise awareness of traditional heritage skills and the formal and informal training opportunities within the conservation and traditional skills sector, as well as to sell handcrafted items and promote the North East’s rich built, craft, engineering and cultural heritage.
Stands are free for those offering hands on activities to the public and for charity/not-for-profit organisations, or £75 (for all 3 days) for businesses or craftspeople selling their work without offering hands on activities to the public.
For more information and a booking form please contact kathryn.banfield@nect.org.uk or phone 0191 232 9279

The Heritage Skills Festival is the perfect opportunity to bring local history and heritage alive with hands on activities in a range of heritage skills, from green woodworking to weaving to traditional building methods and everything in between. With curriculum links to key stage 1-4 local studies, PHSE, history, science and engineering and key skills, numerous links into built environment and conservation courses at further and higher education level, as well as opportunities to find out about careers in the conservation and traditional building skills sector, this could be the perfect event for you to bring your pupils or students to.

Friday is our dedicated education groups day from 10am until 4pm, although groups are welcome throughout the weekend. The festival is free to attend and accessible by public transport. For more information please contact kathryn.banfield@nect.org.uk or phone 0191 232 9279.

Over 2000 people flocked to the Heritage Skills Festival at Souter Lighthouse in September to have a go at a wide range of traditional skills and chat to conservation and heritage professionals. Highlights included Jonathan Foyle abseiling down the lighthouse and the blowing of the historic foghorn, not to mention all the opportunities for members of the public of all ages to get their hands dirty and have a go. Some of our favourite pictures can be found in the gallery.