Clarks Museum

The Alfred Gillett Trust

New Museum showcasing and preserving artefacts and archives associated with British shoe manufacturer and retailer Clarks

Exhibition Design, Graphic Design, Interpretation

Nissen Richards Studio has been commissioned by the Alfred Gillett Trust to work with its curatorial team on the content, visitor experience and exhibition design for a new Museum, showcasing and preserving the collection of historic artefacts and archives associated with British shoe manufacturer and retailer Clarks. The new Museum will be located in Street, Somerset – where brothers Cyrus and James Clark first set up in business in 1825 – and will explore the history of shoemaking, Clarks’ company history and the people and family behind its creation.

Alfred Gillett Trust (AGT) is a charitable organisation set up to safeguard and preserve the collection and archives associated with the Clark family and C & J Clark Ltd. Phase 1 of the new Museum is due to open in 2025, with a second phase planned for a later date. Architects Purcell are lead consultants on the scheme, which will encompass both new build elements and repurposed historic buildings, with Nissen Richards Studio the project’s Design and Interpretation Consultants.

The new Museum will be an outstanding new Somerset visitor destination and will offer the opportunity for a much wider audience to engage with the Trust’s unique collection, though a series of exhibition and dedicated spaces for community and learning. It will tell stories of manufacture and innovation connected to the shoemaking industry in Street and will spark nostalgia and memories for visitors through experiences that showcase shop interiors and advertising.

Client

The Alfred Gillett Trust

Location

Street, Somerset

Role

Exhibition Design and Interpretation