On 21st June 2024, we celebrated our 30th year as DIY Theatre Company, with a special event at The Angel Centre in Salford.
The event showcased two creative projects: Close Knit, a unique textile project led by visual artist Claire Hignett, and Thirty Profiles, a photography exhibition created with photographer Audrey Albert.
The afternoon was filled with creativity and community. Friends, families, and DIY supporters gathered to enjoy an exhibition of past and present DIY work, including the unveiling of these two celebratory projects.
Close Knit
This fantastic project brought together DIY artists and Visual artist Claire Hignett, to create self-portraits and illustrate their favourite memories on fabric. Claire combined these elements into a beautiful textile piece celebrating DIY’s history and identity.
The centre of the piece featured five sections reflecting our activities during lockdown, as well as four DIY shows:
In the textile, a border of triangles, designed by our Thursday Visual Arts Group, formed a pattern of arrows pointing towards the future.
You can look back at some of the process images and quotes from the group on this page which we updated during the Close Knit process!
“Very impacted and emotional and happy for the DIY members and crew. Well done! Hope it functions and goes on for many years into the future with such grace and dignity to its lovely participants.” – Audience Member
Thirty Profiles
This was a wonderful photography exhibition created by photographer Audrey Albert, working closely with DIY Artists and Leaders. Audrey held a photoshoot with each member, capturing portraits that represented their unique personalities and passions.
The exhibition was a colourful display of individuality, showcasing everything from creative talents to personal interests and experiences. It captured parts of DIY artists and leaders lives, celebrating the many, unique voices and stories within DIY Theatre.
DIY Gamechangers loved their images so much and used their images to create Leadership Profiles which you can have a look at here.
You can also have a look at some of the behind the scene images which we took to document Audrey and DIY at work. There are some lovely quotes from the group on this page!
“It was good to learn the history of DIY Theatre and learn that it has been going for so long. And it was interesting to see some of the work that DIY Theatre members have created.” – Audience Member
Eccles Community Art Gallery
After our birthday celebrations we went on summer break and then came back and decided that the exhibition needed to be showcased to an even wider audience! So we partnered with Eccles Community Art Gallery, and had both Close Knit and Thirty Profiles, on display to the public, during October 2024.
You can read our news item which was all about this, here.
Here’s some of the feedback received at the gallery:
I think the exhibition’s brilliant. I think all the photos are fantastic – they’re very colourful
Wonderful colourful photos. It looks like a happy group. Love the “game” I’m always restricted by rules. This game has no rules!! Love it.
It is colourful and it is nice pictures
I love all the softness and cuddliness of the piece and all the powerful stories, shows and people behind it.
Close Knit and Thirty Profiles – Resources
- We produced a digital Event Programme which you can see by clicking here.
- We also created a Close Knit Process Film which you can watch here:
Thank you to the funders who supported our birthday projects:
Close Knit textiles project, was funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Thirty Profiles photography project, was funded by the Whose Art, Whose Culture Fund, managed by Salford CVS on behalf of Salford City Council; monies from the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund via Greater Manchester Combined Authority.
