Mid Pennine Arts announce new Contemporary Heritage commission at Clitheroe Castle Museum.

News Release:


Mid Pennine Arts announce new Contemporary Heritage commission at Clitheroe Castle Museum.

Contemporary Heritage: A new way of seeing

“This is a composer who can get right under the skin.” Journal of Music in Ireland.

MID Pennine Arts have this week announced that the second Contemporary Heritage commission – that will be at Clitheroe Castle Museum - has been awarded to international prize-winning contemporary composer Ailís Ní Ríain.

Born in Cork, Ireland, Ailís captured the public’s imagination in 2009 with ‘Lighthouse Lullaby’, in Maryport, Cumbria. Ailís made the lighthouse sing. Her composition incorporated the sounds and rhythms of the lighthouse’s position at the harbour entrance. The piece interacted with the natural sounds and acoustics of the cast iron building to create an ever-changing improvised performance.

At Clitheroe Castle Museum, Ailís will create a sound installation in and around the Castle Keep. Her composition is inspired by the story of the Lancashire Witches and the 400th anniversary of the Witch trials in 2012. Ailís will be working with 10 women and 2 men aged 18 to 80+ who live or work in Clitheroe. The ‘hummers’ will spend time together with Ailís, understanding her work as a composer and how she creates her music. Each person will hum a song which has a personal poignancy to them which will become part of the installation.

Ailís said, “Clitheroe Castle Museum and grounds are fascinating. The Keep itself is particularly inspiring and I found the panel on the Lancashire Witch Trials in the Museum curious and indeed shocking. The Keep is incredible and has terrific scope for engagement with the public which is something I focus strongly on throughout my artistic work. “

Contemporary Heritage is an ambitious programme of artist commissions at stunning historic sites across Pennine Lancashire. The commissions, inspired by Pennine Lancashire’s heritage, animate each site and offer visitors a rare chance to experience major works of art by artists of national and international standing outside urban centres.

Contemporary Heritage brings an extra dimension to our partners’ venues, creating a new way of seeing the history and heritage of these sites. Mid Pennine Arts will deliver a programme of creative learning activities associated with each commission to further surprise, inspire and delight participants. Contemporary Heritage provides a terrific counterpoint to some of our heritage treasures, and attracts a new audience to explore the splendours of Lancashire.

Burnley’s Towneley Hall and Park is home to Not Forgotten, the first Contemporary Heritage installation by nationally acclaimed artist Geraldine Pilgrim.

Nick Hunt, Mid Pennine Arts Creative Director, said: “Contemporary Heritage is an ambitious programme of new art that makes dramatic use of some of our outstanding heritage locations. We are delighted to be working with Clitheroe Castle Museum and thrilled that Ailís has accepted the commission. Her installation will bring contemporary art, local people and a unique place together. It will give visitors a very new experience of this wonderful Lancashire landmark.”

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Notes to Editors

If you require further information, images or would like to interview Ailís Ní Ríain or Rebecca Alexander, Visual Arts Programme Manager from Mid Pennine Arts - please call Julian Jordan from BrandSpankin’ on 01282 878 301 or email julian@brandspankin.co.uk. Further Contemporary Heritage installations are planned at Gawthorpe Hall, Helmshore Mills Textile Museum and Turton Tower.

About Mid Pennine Arts

We are a driving force for the arts, recognised nationally and internationally for devising and delivering integrated programmes that inspire, surprise and delight. We work in some of the most deprived communities in the UK yet have a longstanding track record of powerful, high quality work, demonstrating profound social and economic impacts. Our portfolio includes prize-winning public art for breathtaking landscape settings. Commissions of bold, contemporary work combine dynamically with exemplary programmes of creative learning and creative community engagement. Strong relationships with extensive networks of local partners have been consolidated over decades.

Our mission: we bring art, people and places together to transform perceptions and change lives.

Mid Pennine Arts Charity registration number 250642