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Cambridge Art Galleries and Idea Exchange are honoured to support and host the Cambridge Poppy Project. This community art project of Remembrance is created with hand-knit and crocheted poppies made and donated by community members.
Through the year, Cambridge Poppy Project Committee collected 33,530 completed poppies, surpassing their original goal of 10,000! These poppies will be used in displays designed by Dan Ingrouville that will be presented on the exterior of Idea Exchange Queen’s Square, Preston, and Hespeler locations from October 30 through November 11, 2021. Additional pop-up installations will be shared on the Cambridge Poppy Project website.
Through spring and summer 2021, Idea Exchange distributed 1,626 Poppy Project Take & Make Kits in support of the Cambridge Poppy Project. This amounts to 6,504 balls of yarn wound by our incredible volunteers and gallery and library staff. The total length is 74,796 yards of yarn—almost enough to make a trip around all of our locations three times!
This has been an incredible community art project that has brought the Cambridge community together during a year of uncertainty and change. It not only serves to honour our veterans and active military personnel, but it reminds us what we can do as a community when we come together.
Our deepest gratitude to the Cambridge Poppy Project Committee, including Idea Exchange Board Member and City Councillor Pam Wolf. Thank you to the incredible Idea Exchange staff and volunteers for their enthusiastic support of this project throughout the year! Special thanks to Cambridge Art Galleries Education Officer Robert Thody for coordinating the Poppy Project Take & Make Kits, and to Karly, Matthew, Gabrielle and Shannon for supporting this program. We are also grateful to the Cambridge Fire Department and Idea Exchange Facilities staff members Greg and Steve for their assistance installing the displays.
Watch the Cambridge Poppy Project Committee's video, Our Promise To Remember to follow the project from start to finish.