The project has entailed provision of a detailed long-term and holistic ‘Public Art Action Plan’ and vision for the former Markham Colliery site, as well as management and delivery of initial large-scale public art projects encompassing site-specific artworks, integrated design features and creative engagement.

Recently artist Mike Fletcher was commissioned to deliver a community engagement residency to explore the existing landscape, physical networks, routes and trails across the site, issues of ecology, biodiversity and transition. The artist delivered an extensive community engagement programme connecting local people back to the landscape by celebrating landmarks and making land art with found local materials. Read more.

Another major project taking place at Markham is ‘Walking Together’ by artist Stephen Broadbent. This mining memorial project is designed to commemorate the lives of the 106 men who died at disasters at Markham in 1937, 1938 and 1973, as well as being a wider celebration of the mining heritage of the area.  The artwork is being delivered in phases and will see the installation of 106 steel figures walking across the site linking the former pithead with the mining village of Duckmanton. As part of this project a community working group of volunteers has been set up, including local mining families and historians, to advise and guide the project. Various launches for different phases of the project have been taking place since 2013 – read more in our ‘Latest’ section.