The Lido Project
Posted 21st May 2014
A NEW art exhibition is due to launch at the Droitwich Lido, over the half term holiday, showing art inspired by the history of the pool.
The Droitwich Sea Bathing Lido exhibition, which has been created by Droitwich Air Cadets and supported by Wychavon District Council, involves interviews with local people sharing their memories of the Lido, as well as material from the archives in Worcester, going back to when the Lido originally opened in 1935.
The exhibition features images and newspaper articles, as well as original bathing costumes from the 1950s, and information on Droitwich’s own 1940s acrobatic and burlesque diving experts ‘The Aquabats’, showing the displays behind changing room style saloon doors.
Jenny Davis, Wychavon District Council’s arts development officer, said: “This is an amazing way for Droitwich to show off its wonderful memories of the Lido, which is such an iconic part of the town’s history. It’s also a brilliant for young people to learn about their history and to see how researching from archives and using up–to–date sound recording equipment with the interviews can really bring an exhibition to life. It also gives the public an opportunity to learn more about the Lido in an interesting way.”
Lisa Kimberley, the project manager of the Droitwich Sea Bathing Lido Exhibition, added: “The unique exhibition that is being installed within Droitwich Lido for the 2014 season provides a playful insight and celebration into times gone by at the classic art deco designed Sea Bathing Lido, which continues to be a popular outdoor swimming and recreational facility in the local area today.”
Sam Cooper and Gwyndaf Wheeler of the Droitwich Air Cadets have been involved in the project. They said: “It’s been a long project but it’s been really rewarding. To see the exhibition go from being a model of our ideas to the finished thing is brilliant.”
The exhibition will be on display all throughout the summer Lido season and will close on 7 September. To see it visitors just need to purchase a swimming ticket — visitors to the Lido who are there to use the pool do not need to buy an additional ticket to see the exhibition.