Moments in Time archive goes live!

If you cast your minds back to September 2019 you might remember we launched two connected projects with Derbyshire Virtual School called, Moon Stories and Music of the Moon, to tie in with the 50th anniversary of the 1969 Moon Landings.

However, when the pandemic hit in early 2020, the focus of the project shifted and the young people started exploring their own personal stories, experiences and feelings both before and during these unprecedented times.

So what started life as a document of one event of worldwide significance, ended up recording something quite different, and equally significant.

And so we've now created an extensive digital and physical collection of over 400 items created by 70 young, care experienced people in Derbyshire during the COVID-19 pandemic, alongside the original Moon Landing memories we originally set out to capture. You can view this archive by appointment at the Derbyshire Record Office in Matlock.

We also commissioned Adam Robertson to make this beautiful and evocative film to celebrate the archive and to share these extraordinary everyday stories. The film also includes a narrative by storyteller, Maria Whatton.

https://youtu.be/F0ff8xrokJQ

We also commissioned fine artist, Carol Harries-Wood to respond to the archive of creative work and she produced a giant artwork made from a canvas of stitched together disposable face masks, the work will eventually live in the archive with all the young people's work, but can be seen at Wirksworth Library during December 2021, Ashbourne Library in January and Belper Library in February 2022.

You can read more about the Moments in Time project and archive as well as about the creatives involved on our website .

Music of the Moon was supported by Youth Music and delivered by Baby People, Moments in Time also received funding from Foundation Derbyshire’s Ashby Trust and Derbyshire County Council’s Action Grants.