In 2023, artist Emma Bugg created a bespoke charm necklace enriched with local stories in Gilded Memories. This year, the project returns thanks to an invitation from local young people. Festival-goers of all ages are invited to workshops to create their own storytelling charms from found and recycled objects to add to a growing monumental necklace that tumbles out of the Galley Museum and into the street. This living public artwork celebrates memory, place, and connection through hands-on participation and shared storytelling.

Elemental Memories Workshops are free, short, hands-on sessions of storytelling and charm-making guided by artists Emma Bugg, Lauren Steller and Natalya Bing. Charms become part of a growing necklace outside the Galley Museum.

When: 12–5pm Thursday–Saturday. Sessions are run every 5–10 minutes
Duration: 15 minutes
Group size: Up to five people per session

The workshops are for people 5 years of age and over. Children must be accompanied by a parent or carer at all times and should not be left unattended.

Bring Your Own Object (BYOO): Broken jewellery, rock, toys, or any other small item that you would like to transform into part of this artwork. Don’t worry, we have spares! The object you bring will become part of the artwork forever.

To see the growing necklace, take a walk around the corner to the Galley Museum on Driffield Street to see some of the completed charms on display.

View the digital archive of charms.