Chew Valley Hoard Celebrations

South West Heritage Trust has invited Chew Valley Performing Arts to help celebrate the return of the extraordinary Chew Valley Hoard — over 2,500 late Anglo-Saxon and early Norman coins, the largest discovery of its kind since 1833, and a remarkable window into the turbulent years surrounding the Norman Conquest. As the Trust creates a permanent new home for the hoard at the Museum of Somerset, Valley Arts will lead an ambitious programme of community engagement, culminating in a large-scale, co-created performance that brings local voices, stories and creativity to the heart of this historic treasure’s homecoming.

This project invites local people of all ages to explore the stories, mysteries and human histories embedded within the Hoard.  Through creative workshops, school sessions and a new intergenerational community performance, participants will uncover and reimagine lives, voices and legacies connected to the Chew Valley.

Valley Arts will deliver an ambitious seven month programme of community activity, including:

• Creative workshops for everyone across the Chew Valley
• Workshops in local primary schools, exploring heritage, storytelling and performance
• The creation of a new intergenerational community play, co-authored with local adults and young people
• Professional support from scriptwriters, directors, designers, musicians, choreographers and technicians
• Four public performances at Yeo Valley Organic Gardens
• A documentary film sharing the creative process, stories and community voices
• Material that can feed into temporary exhibitions in Bath and Taunton, including behind-the-scenes insights and digital content

There will be a Community Engagement Day in Chew Magna – Every Coin Tells a Story – all day on 20^th June across a multiple space venue.  The day will feature a lot of free-to-access general community fun and live entertainment.

There will also be a live community performance at Yeo Gardens on 18th & 19th July. 

Further information: https://www.valley-arts.co.uk/the-hoard/