‘Fete of ideas’ to explore Frome’s identity

A free, one-day event exploring the identity, future and community spirit of Frome will be held at Silk Mill on Saturday 19th September.

The venue will be transformed into ‘The ForEm’—a pop-up fete featuring a mix of ideas, live performances, games, films, and original artworks from 10am to 6pm.

Created by local artist Kate Keara Pelen, the event forms part of a collaboration with the University of Glasgow’s Civic Imaginary Partnerships research project. Commissioned to turn academic research into an interactive experience, Kate’s creative design uses playful installations to ask local residents three key questions: What makes Frome, Frome? What do we value and who gets to shape the town? What might we do differently in the future?

Dr Michael Howcroft, Civic Imaginaries project lead at the University of Glasgow, said, “We commissioned Kate to work with us because we didn’t want someone simply to illustrate a research report. She has spent time with the research, with us and with some of our participants. The ForEm takes our questions and turns them into things people can play with and argue over.”

The ForEm invites people to explore the stories they tell and are told about the town its independence, creativity and community spirit and also its challenges and changing identities.

Highlights include a giant community loom, designed by artists Claire Orpin and Tamara Jones, which has been built up through work with local youth and will invite public contributions on the day.

Screenings of short films created by local residents about their lives and hopes for Frome, following a popular preview in Victoria Park last month. The full showcase runs at 5pm, followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers.

Theatre-maker Tom Spencer will lead an unconventional gallery tour, while Martin Scott -combining his personas of Town Crier and Cheese Lord – will engage audiences with local traditions and stories.

Attendees will also have the chance to review the research team’s emerging findings, providing direct feedback on what the academics may have missed or misunderstood.

The insights gathered at The ForEm will directly inform a report and policy recommendations to be presented to Frome Town Council later this year. The whole day is entirely free and will conclude with a screening of the community films at 5pm, followed by conversation with some of the participants.

Dr Howcroft said, “For us, this is what collaborative policymaking can look like. We have research findings, but instead of finalising them behind a university laptop and presenting them to the council, we’re trying to open up the process. Kate’s work creates a different way for residents to challenge those ideas before they become recommendations.”

For more information visit the Civic Imaginaries website https://civicimaginaries.gla.ac.uk/welcome-to-the-forem/