The Fight for Rights: Mining in Workington

Workington teenagers launch pop-up exhibition at Helena Thompson Museum.

‘The Fight for Rights: Mining in Workington’ opens 18 November 2023 at 2pm.

Teenagers will put Workington’s mining history in the spotlight when they open a new display at Helena Thompson Museum later this month.

The Fight for Rights: Mining in Workington charts the struggle for children’s and workers’ rights and explores the social impacts of mining on Workington and West Cumbria over the years.

The exhibition, which will be free to visit, has been designed by a group of 10 teenagers aged 15-17 as part of a work experience programme led by DigVentures with funding from Historic England to create an opportunity for young people to discover and share their own local history.

The students, who took part from different schools and youth groups across Workington, chose the theme and content of the display. After learning about research, exhibition design, and marketing, the students then interviewed and photographed retired miners, delved through archives at the museum, designed displays, and planned the exhibition launch.

Featuring immersive audio, interactive elements, and a selection from the museum archives chosen by the students to help tell their story, the students hope the display will be inclusive and interesting to all ages.

“We don’t get taught our town’s history at school so this was our first time really learning about it and it’s so important,” said the students.

“We really want our exhibition to bring this history alive for everyone who lives on the doorstep of local mines like Jane Pit, but hasn’t had the chance to learn about the struggles and the vital role they had in shaping our local area” they continued.

“We collectively chose to focus on workers’ and children’s rights because the conditions that many miners had to work in was inhumane, and it took generations of struggle for things to change. We’re really proud of what Workington miners achieved, and we’ve used soundbites we recorded in interviews with retired miners to make that stand out” they said.

“We spent a week researching the rich mining past of Workington and other local mining areas. It has been amazing to discover more about our local history and the people who worked in our mines” commented student Alexia Stainton.

“I have really enjoyed my week of research and planning and am leaving feeling proud of the exhibition and the people of Workington” added Hannah McQuirk.

Project co-ordinator Harriet Tatton said “Seeing these young people come together to create this exhibition has been truly special. By the end of the week they were talking confidently to their MP and youth leaders about what they had learned and what they feel the young community in Workington needs.”
The Fight for Rights: Mining in Workington opens at the Helena Thompson Museum on 18 November 2023, including a launch event 2pm-7pm. Entry is free and open to everyone. The exhibit will be on display until Wednesday 22^nd November.