Fabric of Watford opens free co-curation to locals

Watford residents are being invited to help create Fabric of Watford, the opening exhibition at the new Museum of Watford. The free co-curation programme will run from September 2026 to January 2027 at the Museum of Watford, with an application form required to take part.

The project is open to former silk mill workers and their families, local residents, community members, creatives, students and history enthusiasts. No museum experience, specialist knowledge or family connection to the mills is required.

Local voices will help tell Watford’s silk story

Fabric of Watford will explore the social history of silk and the legacy of the town’s silk mills. Its scope will extend from the lives of mill workers and their families to the international journeys taken by silk itself.

Participants will work alongside Museum of Watford staff, using personal memories, archive material, photographs and objects to develop the exhibition. The group will explore local history, discuss possible themes and contribute ideas for displays and visitor experiences.

That means participants will not simply attend a local-history talk: they will have a role in deciding which stories are explored and how visitors encounter them. People with memories, photographs or family stories connected to the mills may have particularly relevant material to share, while residents without that connection can contribute through their interest in Watford, history or creative exhibition-making.

Elected Mayor of Watford Peter Taylor said the programme could uncover experiences and memories that might otherwise be forgotten and help the exhibition reflect the voices of the community.

Saturday and evening sessions from September to January

The programme is scheduled to include one Saturday session and one evening session in each month from September 2026 through January 2027. Applicants should therefore consider whether they can participate across that five-month period rather than treating it as a single event.

Watford Borough Council’s announcement does not list the individual session dates or starting times. It also does not provide the museum’s full venue address, transport guidance or accessibility information. Prospective participants will need to check the council’s programme information and any later details from the Museum of Watford before planning a visit.

How to apply for the co-curation group

Anyone interested must complete an application form and provide some information about themselves, their interests and any connection they may have to Watford’s silk history. A connection is welcomed but is not a condition of joining the programme.

Applications are already open, although the council announcement does not specify a closing date. Participation is free. The application form and further information are available through the Watford Borough Council News announcement published on 11 August 2026. Applicants should use that official page and wait for confirmed session and venue details from the Museum of Watford.

Source: Watford Borough Council News