The Museum has been collaborating with local literary organisation Worcestershire LitFest & Fringe to explore its collections through creative language.
In 2023, we were awarded an Arts Council National Lottery Project grant to ‘unlock’ our collections through stories of food and drink. In partnership with Dr Neil Buttery (an award-winning food historian, author, podcaster, and chef), we have created a new Georgian dining table and dessert course cabinet to illuminate the interesting (and often surprising) ways in which Worcester ceramics were used in formal 18th-century dining experiences. These displays have helped bring our collection to life, offering insight into how food has been prepared, shared, and enjoyed over time.
Our collaborative project with Worcestershire LitFest poets, titled ‘The Language of Porcelain and Food’, has allowed local writers to take inspiration from these new food history displays. Their poems showcase creative local talent and offer new literary perspectives on our varied collection.