Artwork created by hundreds of people goes on permanent display
A collaborative artwork created by hundreds of members of the public across Amber Valley has become a permanent installation in the borough’s Town Hall reception area.
The work, entitled ‘People Make Amber Valley’, was the brainchild of local artist Lise Bennett as part of Amber Valley Borough Council’s 50th anniversary celebrations in April.
The milestone event was marked by a week of festivities, community engagement and creative expression - aptly named ‘The Making of Amber Valley’ - to celebrate the vibrant spirit and rich heritage of the borough.
The highlight of the celebrations was the unveiling of the art installation, which proved so popular with the public that it has now gone on permanently display.
‘People Make Amber Valley’ represents a map of the borough crafted from chicken wire. Attached to the map are a colourful array of 350 intricately designed figurines that were individually created by school pupils, nursing homes, community groups, and other enthusiastic members of the public.
Due to overwhelming public demand, the installation has now taken pride of place at the Town Hall, on Ripley Market Place, where people will be able to view it for years to come.
Artist Lise said: “The first thing most people seem to say about this collaborative artwork is that it’s full of joy!
“During the creation of this, we worked with young children through to the elderly across Amber Valley. The positivity and engagement in creating the mini people was incredible, as well as the stories and memories that were shared. All of this has gone into the artwork, and you can feel that.
“Participants are delighted about their creations going on permanent display and are excited to bring friends and family to see it. It feels like a wonderful reminder of the community spirit of Amber Valley.”
Around 150 of the artwork’s figurines were completed and added to the map prior to the main anniversary event on Ripley Market Place on April 6. A further 200 figurines were added during the event.
People were also encouraged to bring figurines they had created for the spectacle and attach them to the map on the day. Each figurine has been crafted from wire, clay, wood or textiles - materials that reflect Amber Valley’s rich industrial heritage.
Council representatives were taken aback by the popularity of the artwork and attendance of the celebration events in general, which included personal guided tours of the council chamber by the former Mayor of Amber Valley, Councillor Tony Holmes.
Councillor Chris Emmas-Williams, Leader of Amber Valley Borough Council, expressed gratitude to the community for their unwavering support and participation.
"The 50th anniversary celebration was a testament to the strength of our community and the enduring spirit of Amber Valley," he said.
"I’d like to thank everyone who attended these celebrations, and an even bigger thank you to everyone who contributed to making it happen. It was definitely a week to remember”.
The success of the 50th anniversary celebration underscores the commitment of Amber Valley Borough Council to fostering a sense of belonging, creativity, and civic pride among its residents.
The Making of Amber Valley was made possible by the support of Make/Shift, which is funded by Arts Council England as part of its Creative People and Places (CPP) National Portfolio.
Rachel Smith, Creative Producer at Make/Shift said: “The Making of Amber Valley was a fantastic opportunity to celebrate creativity in all its forms from across Amber Valley.
“The Make/Shift team are always excited to see how many people are already making and connecting across the borough and this was a brilliant chance to inspire and unleash the maker in even more people, whilst also celebrating the place where they live, work, have fun and create.”
Amber Valley Borough Council invites everyone to visit the council’s main reception and experience the “People Make Amber Valley” art installation first hand.
More News From Amber Valley Info
| CCTV footage released following burglary at South Normanton supermarket Police have released CCTV footage of a trio of burglars we are tracing following a break-in at a supermarket read more | |
| Library To Hold Weekly Sessions In Village Hall Due To Temporary Closure Book lovers in Somercotes are being encouraged to take advantage of new weekly sessions which have been set read more | |
| Ripley's former HSBC branch to go under the hammer The former branch of HSBC in the Derbyshire market town of Ripley is to go up for auction this month with a guide price of £ read more | |
| Belper Chess Club Celebrates Back-to-Back League Triumph Belper Chess Club is celebrating a major achievement after its First Team secured the Derbyshire Chess Association Division read more | |
| Salcare's Community Pantry & Shop Relaunch with Refreshed Look, Special Offers, and Community Perks Salcare, a local charity based in Heanor, Derbyshire, is delighted to announce th read more | |
The Amber Valley Info Noticeboard
| Food waste recycling is coming to Amber Valley From June 2026, Amber Valley Borough Council will introduce weekly food waste recycling across the borough as part of a phased roll-ou read more | |
| Stallholder Bookings Now Open For The Tansley Big Day Out We're excited to announce that Tansley's Big Day Out 2026 will take place on 6th & 7th June 2026! read more | |
| Christmas and New Year bin collection dates Over the festive season, bin collections will operate on revised schedules. Some collections may take place up to two days earlier than u read more | |
| Launch Of WOMBLE MANIA! At the Heights of Abraham, Opened by Marcus Robertson, Son of Wombles author, Elisabeth Beresford, officially launched WOMBLE MANIA! at the Heights of Abraha read more | |
| Belper School and Sixth Form Centre Closed Today Due to a significant water leak, resulting in the water being turned off at school, we unfortunately have to close the school today. read more | |
