Hidden stories of the River Trent to be revealed in new travelling art exhibition
By Liana Snape 6th Oct 2026
The hidden stories of the River Trent are being revealed in a new travelling art exhibition across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.
The Cabinet of Curiosities exhibition was created by B. Arts and communities in Stafford and Stoke-on-Trent as part of Staffordshire Wildlife Trust's Trent Valley Past & Present project.
It showcases a collection of found objects and created artworks gathered (and inspired) by Staffordshire's Trent River catchment.
The exhibition opened at Biddulph Library this week (5 October) and is set to travel to libraries, cultural venues and community spaces across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent throughout the following year.
Susan Kneill-Boxley, Community Organiser for Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, says: "Thanks to local community groups and B. Arts, people across Staffordshire will be able to experience a different connection with the River Trent through artwork.
"Whether visitors are passionate about local history, interested in art, curious about nature, or simply looking for something different to do, the exhibition offers a chance to discover unexpected treasures and unique stories from across the Trent catchment."
The exhibition contains fragments of everyday life, as well as items shaped by decades of river flow, recovered from locations throughout the Trent catchment area.
The exhibition aims to offer visitors an insight into the history, people, wildlife and changing landscape of the River Trent, while encouraging people of all ages to see the river in a new way.
Each object has been selected to spark curiosity and conversation about the river's cultural, environmental, and social significance.
Rebecca Frankenberg, Co-Director at B. ARTS, says: "The project has been an exciting opportunity to explore the stories and heritage of the Trent with local people in a really creative and unique way.
"Over 100 residents in Stafford and Stoke-on-Trent ranging in age from 8 to 83 have helped us shape the content of the cabinet - focusing on the Trent stories that are important to them.
"Whether that's young people wanting to protect the river from harm, residents sharing the heritage of their town or people reflecting on the transformative power of being by the river.
"We are really excited to share this unique exhibition and hope everyone who visits finds their own way to connect to the river."
This project has been made possible due to The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
For more information about the exhibition, visit the B. Arts website here.
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