Jacquetta Hawkes and the Festival of Britain

Jacquetta Hawkes’s role in creating the Festival of Britain is one of her greatest achievements, recognised by the award of an OBE in the 1952 New Year Honours.  As archaeological advisor to the Festival, Jacquetta created exhibits which were correct in detail (as far as could be ascertained) and which captured the imagination of visitors with a “sense of mystery and drama”.  Find out more about this challenging project in Number 31 in our 100 Objects exhibition.

On show at Ilkley Manor House Museum

Jacquetta Hawkes and J.B. Priestley on boat while visiting Japan, 1952

Today John Brooker (my Assistant) and I set up the Celebrating Jacquetta Hawkes exhibition at the Manor House Museum in Ilkley.  This exhibition uses treasures from the Jacquetta Hawkes Archive to tell her fascinating story, and will be on show throughout the Ilkley Literature Festival until 31 October.  The Festival programme includes a private view of the exhibition, and two talks by Jacquetta’s biographer Dr Christine Finn.

The exhibition concentrates on the years around Jacquetta’s masterpiece A Land, complementing the two talks. It includes the script for her film about Barbara Hepworth, her links with Henry Moore, her work on the Festival of Britain, and the typescript and published version of her greatest poem, Man in Time.  There is also a gallery of photographs of Jacquetta in the 1940s and 1950s, in a chic 40s suit, some stunning New Look dresses, and even a kimono.

Part of the Jacquetta Hawkes exhibition, showing ammonites and Henry Moore illustrations for A Land

Words, Land, and Landscape at Ilkley Literature Festival

Just announced: the 2010 Ilkley Literature Festival programme includes several events celebrating the centenary of Jacquetta Hawkes.  More detail about buying tickets etc available from the Festival website.

Tuesday 28 September-Sunday 31 October 2010, Manor House Museum. Celebrating Jacquetta Hawkes.  An exhibition in which I use the treasures of the Jacquetta Hawkes Archive to tell her fascinating story. (Event no. 2).

Wednesday 6 October 2010. 6.30-8 pm, Manor House Museum.  Private view: special chance to enjoy the above exhibition and Faces of Poetry, also on show in the Manor House.  (Event no. 54).

Wednesday 6 October 7.45 pm,  Ilkley Playhouse Wildmans.  Old Land, New Land: a journey through Jacquetta Hawkes’ poetic geography. Dr Christine Finn, Jacquetta’s biographer,  introduces Figures in a Landscape, an experimental film about Barbara Hepworth scripted by Jacquetta Hawkes and continuing the fusion of literature and geology shown in her masterpiece, A Land. (Event no. 55).

Saturday 16 October 7.30 pm,  St Margaret’s Hall.  Jacquetta Hawkes and her Circle. Dr Finn and Dr Jon Wood of the Henry Moore Institute discuss the art, film and poetry scene of the 1950s (Henry Moore, Graham Sutherland, Festival of Britain) and Jacquetta’s involvement. (Event no. 165).

The Stanza Stones project, collaborating with Simon Armitage, will draw creative inspiration from the Pennine landscape, linking beautifully with our exploration of similar ideas in the 1950s.