Assembling Newtown Exhibition – last few days

Over the last week, members of the public in mid Wales have had the chance to find out more about some of the GLOBAL-RURAL research at a pop-up exhibition reporting back on the in-depth fieldwork on ‘everyday globalization’ that we’ve been carrying out in the market town of Newtown for the past two years.

The exhibition tells the story of Newtown’s development and its global connections, from the pioneering mail-order business of Pryse Jones to the global business of textile firm Laura Ashley in the 1980s, to interesting business and cultural connections today. Panels describe some of the engagement in global networks that form part of everyday life in the town, including findings from a door-to-door survey of residents, and there’s a wall giving voice to the thoughts and recollections of Newtown people. Visitors are challenged to think about Newtown’s future, and to decide which icons of globalisation they would boost or bin.

There’s also opportunities to listen to some of the conversations specially recorded with people in Newtown for us by artist Caitlin Shepherd, and to view a series of short films documenting key moments in Newtown’s history.

The exhibition is open to this Saturday, 30th September, at Glanhafren Market Hall, Newtown, between 10am and 4pm.