Welcome to the regular newsletter for The Amelia, keeping you up to date on our upcoming events and bringing you all the latest news and updates from the project.
The Amelia will bring together books, objects, documents, photographs, and visual art, housed in a vibrant and revitalised building. The building will be named after the suffragist and Tunbridge Wells resident Amelia Scott. Read on to find out the latest on our news and events, or browse our website for more information about current services, and the services of our partners.
GET TO KNOW US – MEET SOME OF THE TEAM
Across five days in January, a pop-up event in Royal Victoria Place allowed members of the community to find out more about the exciting events and amenities that will form The Amelia when it opens at the end of April. Hundreds of people met with team members to understand how The Amelia will deliver a wide variety of services to the people of the borough, ranging from library and museum events through to art exhibitions, adult education, café, through to wellbeing and information services.
Didn’t make it to the pop-up? Read on to hear some thoughts from some of the fantastic staff who will be working in The Amelia:
“I have been working as a customer support assistant at Tunbridge Wells Library since 2017. It’s so exciting that the library will move to Amelia building. As an Amelia customer experience assistant, I will continue to help and support customers with their queries. My experiences as the CSA at the Tunbridge Wells library will strongly support my role at Amelia. I’m really looking forward to seeing the Amelia opening.”
“Hi, my name is Amber. I am a Botanical Art tutor at Kent Adult Education. I’m looking forward to teaching some of my Botanical courses in the new Amelia centre. Covering both watercolour or colour pencil we will be painting and drawing fabulous flowers, fruit and veg and a variety of nature-based subjects from life.”
“I joined the Amelia team a year ago as a Learning and Engagement Assistant. I get to take historical objects from our handling collection out to schools to inspire children in their learning and help them make tangible connections with the past. I can’t wait to be able to welcome school groups to The Amelia where their experience will be enriched by seeing even more wonderful artefacts and art in the galleries, not to mention all the books!”
We’ll hear from more of the team in the next newsletter.
GET TO KNOW OUR OBJECTS
As we approach our opening date, as well as introducing you to some of our wonderful staff we wanted to share some of our most beloved objects too. This month we look at Minnie the Lu Lu Terrier:
Free workshop for 6-12 year-olds
Meet Minnie, the unofficial mascot of The Amelia — a much-loved pet who was displayed in this custom-made cabinet after her death. A card inside reveals her name, breed and dates — ‘Born 27 May, 1871 / died 16 April, 1883’. Lu Lu Terriers, now known as Maltese Terriers, were very popular in Britain at the time. The cabinet has an elaborate decorative covering of thin, inlaid wood veneers, known as Tunbridge ware.
DISCOVERY DAYS: LASTING IMPRESSIONS MEMORY LEAF MAKING WORKSHOP
Come join us for free community craft activities in the Royal Victoria Place Shopping Centre and at Cranbrook Library. We are offering free 60 minute workshops with local Children in February half term to create memory leaves for the Lasting Impressions quilted memory tree. We will ask that the leaves created are left behind to be included as part of the quilt.
Lasting Impressions – Tunbridge Wells Pandemic Memory Tree is a community project run by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, in partnership with Tunbridge Wells Hospital. We are creating a quilted tree wall hanging, with leaves made by members of the local community depicting their memories, reflections, and experiences of living through the Covid-19 pandemic.
Due to Covid there is a limited group number, therefore places to the sessions will need to be pre-booked.
This is a session where we are not asking adults to stay with the young participants, so please be prompt when dropping off and picking up your children.
Join us at POP IN: POP UP – Royal Victoria Place Shopping Centre on Tuesday 15 February at 10am, 11.30am or 1.30pm
To book please visit
theamelia.co.uk/whats-on/discovery-days
If you want to get involved in the Lasting Impressions community project further information can be found here twsocial.co.uk/channels/lasting-impressions
CURATOR TALK PODCASTS
Enjoy The Amelia on the move with a selection of local history podcasts on the borough and its collections: theamelia.co.uk/get-involved/learning-resources/curator-podcasts
USEFUL LINKS
Volunteering
There are still opportunities to get involved with volunteering during these unusual times. Find out more on our website by visiting the volunteering page at www.theamelia.co.uk/get-involved/opportunities/
Council services
http://www.tunbridgewells.gov.uk/find-and-contact-us/gateway
Visit Tunbridge Wells
https://www.visittunbridgewells.com/things-to-do/activities/walking
Kent Adult Education
https://www.kentadulteducation.co.uk/
Kent Libraries, Registration and Archives
www.kent.gov.uk/libs
TW Social
Online resources and entertainment from Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, to help establish online sense of community across our borough and to help combat the social isolation and loneliness we can all feel sometimes. Visit https://twsocial.co.uk/
The Friends
Find out more on their Facebook page.