museumaker  is a prestigious arts council funded national project, involving sixteen museums across four participating regions. It's aim is to unlock the creative potential of collections through imaginative interchanges between the heritage and contemporary craft sectors and to demonstrate innovative ways of developing audiences; especially children, families and young people.

Each museum commissioned one or more outstanding makers to create intriguing new work in response to the venue and its collections. A maker-led participatory project, engaging a wide range of visitors, is integral to each programme.

At Woodhorn Museum & Archive, the focus of the museumaker commission is retail development. We were selected for our  Coal Bowl and Blue Plaque Plate concepts and working with retail consultant and artist Kit Grover, developed a limited edition of the products to be sold in the museum shop. Coal Bowl is cast in ceramic, glazed glossy black and hand-gilded inside. Blue Plaque Plate is a 25cm bone china plate. Additional Blue Plaque Coasters were commissioned independently by Woodhorn.

The products are inspired by The Ashington Group (The Pitmen Painters),  a group of miners who, by painting their lives, transformed their own and other peoples' perceptions of themselves.  Coal Bowl and Blue Plaque Plate express a transformation from the everyday to the unique and special. They capture, communicate and celebrate the essence of The Ashington Group and reflect the personality and quality of Woodhorn's collection.