Excav8: Unearthing Time, Art, and Innovation with Southend’s Young Creatives
Elevator Arts' excav8 project has embarked on an inspiring journey, bringing together home-educated young people aged 12–16 to explore the intersections of time, art, technology, and storytelling. In collaboration with Southend Museums and led by artist Laura Trevail, the project invites participants to delve into the past while imagining the future through hands-on creative experiences.
Exploring Time Through Art and Artefacts
From ancient relics to contemporary installations, the young participants have been investigating the concept of time in multifaceted ways. Their explorations at the Beecroft Art Gallery included the thought-provoking exhibition Reject Reflect Reclaim by The Other MA (TOMA) 24/25 cohort. This exhibition challenges traditional narratives by addressing themes such as representation, violence, sexuality, gender, colonialism, and identity, encouraging viewers to reconsider the familiar and engage critically with the gallery’s permanent collection .
The group also engaged with the Alan Sorrell: Nubia exhibition, featuring rarely-seen works that capture the grandeur of Nubian monuments during the Aswan High Dam race . Additionally, they explored the immersive Drag exhibition, which delves into the history and contemporary relevance of drag as a form of expression and entertainment
Behind the Scenes: Conservation and Curation
A highlight of the project was an insightful talk by conservators Clare and Heather, titled “Pesky Pests,” which shed light on the meticulous work involved in preserving artworks and artefacts. Their expertise provided the young participants with a deeper understanding of the challenges faced in maintaining the integrity of museum collections.
At Southend Central Museum, the group explored the Prittlewell Princely Burial, a significant Anglo-Saxon archaeological find dating back to around 580 AD. Believed to be the burial site of Sæxa, brother of Sæberht of Essex, the discovery offers a glimpse into early Anglo-Saxon Christian practices and the region's rich history .
Creative Responses: Merging Technology and Imagination
Embracing both traditional and modern mediums, the young creatives have been developing their own responses to the collections. Utilising micro:bits, they have ventured into coding, beginning to create interactive projects that blend storytelling with technology. At the sessions so far they have curated personal collections of meaningful objects and experimented with infrared cameras and 3D scanning to produce unique artworks.
These activities not only foster technical skills but also encourage participants to reflect on the significance of objects and the narratives they carry, bridging the gap between the tangible and the digital.
Looking Ahead: Expanding Horizons
The excav8 journey is far from over. The young participants are eagerly anticipating a visit to the Southend Planetarium, where they will explore the cosmos and further contemplate our place in time and space.
Elevator Arts extends heartfelt gratitude to the dedicated staff and volunteers at Southend Museums’ Central Museum and Beecroft Art Gallery, whose enthusiasm and generosity have been instrumental in enriching the excav8 experience.
The excav8 project will culminate in a public exhibition of the young people’s work this July, hosted across Southend Central Museum and the Beecroft Art Gallery. The exhibition will showcase their creative responses to the collections and the innovative work they’ve developed throughout the project.
excav8 is proudly supported through funding from the National Lottery by Arts Council England.
