Banners are key to trade union campaigning providing a gathering point and a strong visual message that’s completely individual to your branch. A hand painted banner is a working piece of art, catching attention and inspiring conversation. They work to spread your values while strengthening the lasting, living story of the labor movement.
Featured here are some examples of our more recent commissions.
Creating an original banner design for your branch or group provides an exciting opportunity to engage with the communities and issues of today with a lasting, impactful visual legacy.
Featured here is a selection of our more recent collaborations with members of the the Durham Miners’ Association, Trade Union, artists and community groups.
When meeting with your banner group we'll discuss how best to replicate your banner so it continues to have a strong place in your community for future generations. You might wish to consider small changes like replacing unknown people and places with current community members, children and village scenes or, we can replicate the original exactly. We can also design and deliver workshops and school projects to broaden community participation and strengthen your funding bid.
Featured here are some examples of our more recent replica banners.
With over fourty years of experience successfully delivering creative, inclusive and diverse projects for schools, Durham Bannermakers can design the perfect banner project to inspire your students for generations to come.
Working with banner artist Emma Shankland (BA sculpture/installation, MA museum and gallery education).
PROJECT EXAMPLE
1 X studio day designing the banner layout and creating 4, in school drawing workshops to be delivered to KS2 pupils. (Workshops are tailored around a brief provided by the school that includes ideas, mottos and must haves)
1 X in school day delivering drawing workshops with Key Stage 2 pupils.
1 X studio day choosing drawings and prepping the fabric banner for painting
2 X full days in school working with a maximum of 4, Year 6/ 5 pupils at a time to paint the fabric banner. Pupils rotate with the bell to enable a total of 32 pupils to participate in the painting over the 2 days. Note: a flat wall minimum 2m X 2m is required to tape the banner to the wall.
5.5 X studio completion days including finishing the painting of the banner, sewing up the banner in the traditional manner with top loops and making the carrying poles.
COST INCLUDING ALL MATERIALS AND WOODEN POLES £2,200
Contact Emma to discuss your ideas on:
Tel: 0795 137 9520
Email: emmaatdurhambannermakers@gmail.com
From consultation to research and design, funding assistance and community engagement projects, our profession and passion is banners. We're continuously inspired by their unique ability to galvanise present and future generations to follow in the footsteps of those giants who've walked before us. Bannermaking is one of the most unique artforms with roots spreading far and wide in our visual political history. We're proud to build upon a rich tradition, bringing the finest materials to support the hand-rendered nature of both creating new and replica banners that support our rich industrial past and union solidarity.
For 135 years Miners’ Gala has roared, sang, inspired and mobilised thousands of people to act. There’s no other event to compare it with, to see it is to understand it, to talk about it can never do it justice. Amidst a unique blend of art, music and politics is a call to remember the achievements of the past while educating and organising to create a better future for all.
This year we were incredibly honoured to be asked to make the 150th anniversary banner for the Durham Miners’ Association that also recognised the essential involvement of the MARRAS in growing and securing the future of Miners’ Gala.
As part of Durham Bannermakers continued commitment to these ideals we worked alongside Women’s Banner Group to develop an education programme titled ‘Let Them Be Heard’ which encouraged 150 primary aged pupils to talk about ways to better our communities, welfare system and environment. The project ended a week before Miners’ Gala at Redhills, Durham with a series of workshops with the Workers’ Educational Association on mining life, the role of the Durham Miners’ Association and the creation of a large scale artwork from traditional proggy mats. A downloadable version of the workshop will be available from September 2019 from Women's Banner Group
See you July 11th 2020 for the 136th Miners’ Gala!