Cap and Dove, a unique mobile arts centre, is on its way to Stockport’s Bramall Hall this September, commissioned by Greater Manchester Arts and GMCA, and led by Stockport Museums.
Exhibitions, performance and activities will hop aboard and take place around Cap and Dove, to provide moments of excitement, education and reflection to visitors of all ages who are welcome to just drop in.
The arts centre on wheels is the work of artist, Joshua Sofaer, who was commissioned to create the innovative, moving venue to mark the 200th anniversary of Peterloo, and features a door handle that’s a nose, cast from the face of a radical author; a rainbow doorway that’s also a gutter to disperse Manchester showers; and an onboard theatre.
Commissioned by Greater Manchester Arts with the support of Greater Manchester Combined Authorities (GMCA), Cap and Dove has been lovingly designed to incorporate physical references to Stockport and wider Greater Manchester’s industrial past and social history. Highlighting the themes of freedom of speech, democracy and protest, the one-of-a-kind structure, even incorporating a shop, has already reached thousands of people on its tours through the summer months.
The Cap and Dove arts centre will visit Bramall Hall, SK7 3NX on Sunday 19 September and be open to visitors between 10am and 4pm.
Speaking on behalf of Greater Manchester Arts, Marie Holland (Acting Chair), said:
“Joshua’s idea for taking the shared and distinct histories of Greater Manchester and it’s ten districts direct to people living across the region can finally be realised in full this summer. The intricacies in the design of Cap & Dove provide an ever-unfurling journey of discovery into some of the most inspiring and sometimes bizarre aspects of local history, incorporating the radicals, the dreamers and the iconoclasts that wrote the region into the history books. With each stop on the tour offering something new to experience it’s a small arts centre with a huge story to tell.”
Cllr David Sedgwick, Cabinet Member for Citizen Focus and Engagement at Stockport Council, added:
“It’s fantastic to see this innovative and richly historically significant art project on display in Stockport. The Cap and Dove installation coupled with great local artwork from Nicholas Granville and a performance from the inspiring Ailsa McPhee promises to make Bramall Hall the destination for those of all ages this weekend.”