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Fill out the form below to find out more about the Women’s Work in Pyrex project.

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Which of the following workshops can you attend?
Do you have any photographs of you working at the factory that you would be willing to share?
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More information

Five people stand around a large table in a museum. On the table is a big white paper with a blue map of a river and the sea. Many small black and white photos and notes are pinned to the map. One person in a black and white striped top points at the map while the others look on. Three balls of wool in yellow, green, and purple sit on the corner of the table. In the background, there are glass cases filled with plates and bowls. Signs on the wall say

Sophie Piper leading a research workshop at Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens

What will I be doing?

Firstly, we’d like to gather contextual information about Deste’s photographs. From your insights into the jobs represented in the photographs to your memories of the sounds you heard working at Pyrex. We’re like to hear about your working life and how this compares to the work that has been photographed by Deste.

Secondly, we’d like your help to co-curate an outdoor exhibition of Deste’s photographs to be displayed in Sunderland city centre in Autumn 2026.

We will be running a series of six workshops running between April – June 2026 at Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens.

The workshops will include the following:

  • Podcasting: We will use Deste’s work as a catalyst to discuss women’s work at Pyrex. A podcast producer will record the discussion and your insights.
  • Photography: How woman’s work has been represented is central to this research and in this project we would like to work with you to make a photographic portrait.
  • Curation: We would like your help to choose which of Deste’s photographs to exhibit (in Sunderland city centre later this year) and to produce a soundscape (both environmental sounds and excerpts from the oral histories) to accompany these photographs.

The workshops will run on the following Tuesdays at Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens.

21 April, 1.30 – 3.30pm
5 May, 1 – 3pm
19 May, 1 – 3pm
2 June, 1 – 3pm
16 June, 1 – 3pm
30 June, 1 – 3pm

What will I get out of it?

The project will be an opportunity to contribute to a national archive, to meet new people, reconnect with old friends, learn new skills and to have fun!

Who is running this project?

This project is led by photographer and researcher Sophie Piper, as part of a Northern Bridge Consortium Collaborative Doctoral Award at the Northern Centre of Photography (University of Sunderland) and Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens – delivered in partnership with Historic England and the North East Photography Network (NEPN), supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund as part of the Museum redevelopment project

 

The workshops will be facilitated by Sophie Piper and freelance podcast producer, Grace Stubbings.

 

How do I find out more information?

If you would like to be a part of the project, please sign up and Sophie will be in touch to tell you more information prior to your first workshop. We would like you to take part in as many workshops as possible but understand that this is not always possible – so one is better than none!

 

Sign up

Find out more in the project’s Participant Information