New Exhibition. Add your story. 12 shoes 12 stories

If you have a shoe with a story we would love to hear from you.

Shoemakers Museum is searching for 12 special shoes for an exhibition

Shoemakers Museum in Street is calling on the local community to share the stories behind their shoes as it prepares to celebrate its first birthday this Bank Holiday Monday, 31 August.

‘12 Shoes. 12 Stories’ is a community exhibition to celebrate the museum’s first 12 months, Shoemakers Museum is looking for a dozen shoes or pairs of shoes with a personal story to tell – from wedding shoes and first school shoes to football boots, work boots, wellies or a much-loved pair that has travelled the world. The selected pairs and their stories will form a special display at the museum as part of its first birthday celebrations on Monday 31 August.

Rosie Martin, Director at Shoemakers Museum, said: “Shoes can hold so many memories, and we know there must be some wonderful stories sitting in wardrobes and cupboards across Street and Somerset. They don’t need to be old, rare or valuable – we’re interested in what they mean to the person who wore them. We’d love the local people of Street to get involved and help us share 12 very different stories for our first birthday.”

Do you have a shoe and a story to add to this exhibition?

We can’t wait to hear your stories. People can submit their shoes and stories by emailing hello@shoemakersmuseum.org.uk by 9am on Thursday 20 August. Submissions should include a photograph of the shoes and a brief explanation of the story behind them (100-300 words please).

We’ll choose 12 shoes to display between Fri 28  Aug and Sun 6 Sept and will return them to you after the exhibition.

If you would like to loan a shoe for the exhibition please email your story (no more than 300 words please) and a photo of the shoe or shoes you’d like to submit to hello@shoemakersmuseum.org.uk before 9am on 20 August.

If selected we’ll ask you to drop your shoes to the museum between Fri 21 and Mon 24 Aug. Your shoes will be returned to you after the exhibition, and we’ll ask you to collect them between 8 and 13 Sept.

First year celebration

The call-out comes ahead of A Big Day Out, celebrating one year since Shoemakers Museum opened its doors to the public in September last year.

Taking place from 10am-3pm on Monday 31 August, the family celebration will feature live music and entertainment, Punch and Judy shows, inflatables and lawn games, alongside animals from Second Chance Petting Zoo and donkey rides for younger visitors.

Inside the museum, children will be able to design their own birthday shoes, create birthday hats and take part in a museum-wide scavenger hunt, discovering more about Street’s shoemaking heritage along the way.

The celebrations will also see the unveiling of a new community mural, created throughout the summer by local people working alongside artist Jon Minshull. Inspired by the people, places and memories that make Street feel like home, the finished artwork will form a modern portrait of life in the village.

Visitors can also explore Paths Taken, the museum’s summer exhibition running until 13 September, which uncovers the remarkable stories behind everyday shoes – from footwear concealed inside historic buildings and archaeological finds to treasured family keepsakes and holiday souvenirs.

The birthday celebrations are included with standard museum admission – and with the museum’s ‘Pay Once, Visit for 12 Months’ offer, existing annual pass holders can join the celebrations at no extra cost. Four hours of free parking each visit is also included.

Add your story