Desks of Fabric – Scone Museum

A century after students carved their initials and words into two large cedar school desks from Scone Grammar School, these historic artifacts located at Scone Museum were reimagined through the This Here Then Now Museum activation program by Arts Upper Hunter. With support from the Regional Arts Fund, textile artist Sophie Cox was commissioned to respond creatively to the desks, producing an installation using rubbings and embroidery.

Scone Grammar School students played a key role, participating in embroidery workshops led by Sophie and Museum volunteers, where they stitched directly into the rubbings.

The work was recently unveiled in a temporary installation and is now on permanent display at the Museum along with these incredible desks of history. Visitors can view this exhibition during the Museum’s opening hours. Visits outside these times can be arranged by appointment by phoning ahead. The Museum is closed for Christmas but will re-open in the New Year on Wednesday 22nd January.

The This Here Then Now project was conceived by Arts Upper Hunter and developed in partnership with local museums. This was made possible by the Australian Government Regional Arts Fund, which supports the arts in regional and remote Australia, the NSW Government and C B Alexander Foundation.