Camphill MK’s inaugural Tile Me a Story Project

THE Lord Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire, Countess Howe and Dame Ann Limb, High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire, visited Camphill MK to launch a brand-new community-wide art project called Tile Me a Story. 

You’ve probably heard of buy-a-brick campaigns for the public to support big build projects. Well, Camphill MK is doing something that reflects their community. Tile Me a Story is a creative fundraising activity involving their residents, their on-site craft workshops, and the broader community of Milton Keynes, to create a new permanent artwork. 

Milton Keynes dignitaries joined members of the Camphill MK community (adults with learning disabilities) to create the first line of tiles in an extraordinary workshop. The tiles measure 15cmx 15cm and are hand-crafted on site. Countess Howe and Dame Ann chose to recreate their ceremonial badges/crests, with other guests using the tile as a canvas for their artwork or mark-making to reflect their personality. 

Camphill MK hopes to welcome hundreds of people from the wider community to choose to donate to the project, adding their own story to this unique project.  

Attendee Jenny said:

“I wanted to support the project but wanted a resident from Camphill MK to create a tile on my behalf, so I donated £50, and the resident did a lovely design for me.”

The design work is created by carving, stamping, adding clay to build a design, and using coloured slips with donors invited to give money at three levels. Each donor is recognised in a digital book, with the first level seeing donations received for Camphill MK residents to create a tile on the donors’ behalf and the second level allowing the donor to send in artwork or images they would like recreated. The third level will enable individuals to visit Camphill MK’s ceramic studio to make their own tiles in person. 

Tim Davies, CEO at Camphill MK, said:

“Our big ambitions to build new accessible accommodation have involved lots of conversations with the wider community, and we have been keen to find ways to involve the public in our project. It’s inspiring to have had so many contribute to Tile Me a Story, and I am excited to see the final artwork.”

You can find out more online: at camphillmk.co.uk/tile-me-a-story.