Celebrating the Culture of Sharing

Taste of Yeovil is the third and final public programme for the Story of Yeovil project and we plan to present a feast of creativity for all to enjoy!

We are delighted to announce artist Natasha Rand as our Producer for Taste of Yeovil, with artist Izzie Jobbins as Assistant Producer. Both have community at the heart of their working practice and they have been building towards this project throughout Story of Yeovil this past year, creating a fitting finale to our Art and Heritage programme.

Taste of Yeovil tells the stories of diverse communities through a shared interest in food, capturing tales of ‘food culture’ over time, specific to Yeovil and its communities. Conjuring the heart warming and emotive memories we can associate with food and also capturing the essential part that the food industry has played in Yeovil’s past and present.

Alongside new exhibitions we will be launching a fabulous community recipe book and inviting you to some special community events!

WELCOME HOME Exhibition
at Yeovil Art Space

The Taste of Yeovil Exhibition ‘Welcome Home’ at Yeovil Art Space (20 Jan – 30 Mar) will bring together a display of artworks co-created with artists and community members in Yeovil over the last 6 months.

We have been inspired by food from diverse communities and the part it plays in our lives and our heritage.  Yeovil’s Indian Association and Friends are one of many groups to participate, along with individuals from Italian, Hong Kong, African-Caribbean, South Asian, Polish, South African and Mexican backgrounds. The exhibition will also include some fascinating ‘food related’ historical objects from private contributions and the South Somerset Heritage Collection.  

WELCOME TO OUR TABLE Heritage Display
at Yeovil Library & Ninespring Cafe

Our wonderful Story of Yeovil Community Curatorial Group have been busy and further heritage displays inspired by the Taste of Yeovil will appear at Yeovil Library and the Ninesprings Cafe with the title ‘Welcome To Our Table’.  The group have been exploring the 5 P’s of the food industry; Producing, Preparing/Preserving, Presenting, Partaking and Purchasing will curate objects that reflect Yeovil’s food industry and its place in the community.

The group have played an important part in bringing community input into the Story of Yeovil project and with the support of the Dr Rose Wallis and Dr Laura Harrison from the University of the West of England and the Joseph Lewis at the South Somerset Heritage Collection have curated some fascinating exhibitions unearthing stories from Yeovil’s past.

TASTE OF YEOVIL EVENTS

‘Welcome Home’ Opening Event / 2-5pm, 20 January 2024 / Yeovil Art Space. A welcoming and celebratory event to open the Taste of Yeovil. FREE event but RSVP required.

We are inviting the community to come together, to feel proud of where we live and what we have achieved together.  Local residents from the community groups involved with the Story of Yeovil have been invited to make and share food that is important to them and will provide the feast for the afternoon’s celebrations. 

ONLINE EXHIBITION

Offering another perspective on the Taste of Yeovil we delighted to share this online exhibition from local historian Bob Osborn. This exhibition highlights much of the tradition of food and drink in Yeovil and covers some fascinating stories from the food industry in the town from Farming and Food production to Markets, Corner Shops and Supermarkets. With a wealth of wonderful photos and in depth articles Visit A Taste of Yeovil Online Exhibition here and the the wider Museum and exhibition programme here.

Bob shares with us here a couple of his highlights from the online collection…

---

Get involved!

You are still able to join the Story of Yeovil Community Curatorial group, find out more about art and heritage in our town, play a part in curating special heritage displays for our exhibitions and connect with others – Read all about the group here.

Taste of Yeovil is part of a wider programme of exhibitions and events, the ‘Story of Yeovil’, a co-creation project with the town’s community.  Looking at the past, present and future, the project gathers stories from diverse perspectives through creative activities through three main themes: View of Yeovil, Sound of Yeovil and Taste of Yeovil.  For more information about the wider project visit our Story of Yeovil page.

---

More about Story of Yeovil…