Banners are key to trade union campaigning providing a gathering point and a strong visual message that’s completely individual to your branch. A hand painted banner is a working piece of art, catching attention and inspiring conversation. They work to spread your values while strengthening the lasting, living story of the labor movement.
Featured here are some examples of our more recent commissions.
Creating an original banner design for your branch or group provides an exciting opportunity to engage with the communities and issues of today with a lasting, impactful visual legacy.
Featured here is a selection of our more recent collaborations with members of the the Durham Miners’ Association, Trade Union, artists and community groups.
When meeting with your banner group we'll discuss how best to replicate your banner so it continues to have a strong place in your community for future generations. You might wish to consider small changes like replacing unknown people and places with current community members, children and village scenes or, we can replicate the original exactly. We can also design and deliver workshops and school projects to broaden community participation and strengthen your funding bid.
Featured here are some examples of our more recent replica banners.
With over fourty years of experience successfully delivering creative, inclusive and diverse projects for schools, Durham Bannermakers can design the perfect banner project to inspire your students for generations to come.
Working with banner artist Emma Shankland (BA sculpture/installation, MA museum and gallery education).
PROJECT EXAMPLE
Create your brief. Include any themes and slogans you'd like represented on the banner. An inclusive way to kickstart the process is to set up a banner committee that includes staff and pupils.
From your brief we'll design 4 drawing workshops to be delivered by teachers in class. All additional resources such as readings, images and music will be provided.
From the drawings we'll design the banner.
Durham Bannmerakers artist Emma will then come in to the school for 2 days to work with the upper year to paint the banner working with four pupils at a time rotating with the bell. Please inform us of any pupils who need additional support.
A flat wall 2 m X 2 m is required with some space for pupils to see the banner from a distance if possible.
The banner is then brought back to the studio to finish the painting and be sewn up in the same style as a traditional banner and will be delivered with a set of poles for parading.
BREAKDOWN OF COSTS @ £250 PER DAY plus materials
R&D - 2.5 Days
4 Workshops designed and materials collated for teachers
Banner designed and drawings chosen
Banner drawn up and primed prior to school visit
Painting the banner - 6 days
2 X days in school
4 X days in studio
Sewing the banner - 2 days
TOTAL 10.5 days plus costs for materials, transportation and 1 set of parade poles.
TOTAL COST £2,850
Contact Emma to discuss your ideas on:
Tel: 0795 137 9520
Email: emmaatdurhambannermakers@gmail.com
From consultation to research and design, funding assistance and community engagement projects, our profession and passion is banners. We're continuously inspired by their unique ability to galvanise present and future generations to follow in the footsteps of those giants who've walked before us. Bannermaking is one of the most unique artforms with roots spreading far and wide in our visual political history. We're proud to build upon a rich tradition, bringing the finest materials to support the hand-rendered nature of both creating new and replica banners that support our rich industrial past and union solidarity.
PUBLICATIONS
‘BLAG: Art With A Purpose And A Past: The Durham Bannermakers’ 2024
‘Left Cultures’ 2023
‘Banner Culture’ 2022
‘Emma Shankland: Tales of Fabric and Thread’ 2021
https://www.textileartist.org/emma-shankland-tales-of-fabric-and-thread/
British textiles Biennial ‘Conversations in Creativity’ 2019
For 138 years Miners’ Gala has roared, sang, inspired and mobilised tens of thousands of people to act. There’s no other event to compare it with, to see it is to understand it, to talk about it can never do it justice. Amidst a unique blend of art, music and politics is a call to remember the achievements of the past while educating and organising to create a better future for all.
This year we were incredibly honoured to create two new Durham Miners' Association banners for Wheatley Hill Lodge and Deaf Hill Lodge. Each year new DMA banners are invited to be blessed in Durham Cathedral at a special service. Get there early if you want a seat.
See you July 12th 2025 for the 139th Big Meeting.
