I came across the blog on my work in connection to Jane Eyre today, working on this project and filming in Derbyshire I felt the passion of such a person as Charlotte would be pro-active today in raising awareness to the dilemma’s of lifestyle today. I also believe that those who are interested in Charlotte Bronte can help raise awareness to what I am doing.
I have for 4 years been making documentary films to run with my exhibitions and events.The films provide educational links to drama today and currently raise awareness to the plight of the lace makers in Sri Lanka. Some of the films can be viewed via www.andreagaler.co.uk - (go to film section) I continue to build links with writers of the past and anyone interested and who feels they can help build this idea can contact me on
BBC’s adaptation of Jane Eyre starring Ruth Wilson as Jane was the first production to incorporate the craft skills of the crafts workers in Galle, Sri Lanka which includes hand made bobbin lace and tatting. Both of these I incorporated into Jane Eyre’s wedding dress and used tatting as a trim on her day dresses.

Although the costumes from my film work on Jane Austen adaptations seems to dominate at this moment I continue to connect to the dilemma of lace makers since the life of Henry VIII and I am currently producing a film which will connect the Henry VIII David Starkey series made for channel 4 (for which I was the costume designer), here I fuse the fact that Katherine of Aragon oversaw the King’s wardrobe, and some believe that, while banished to Ampthill, Bedfordshire during Henry’s divorce proceedings against her, she taught the villagers lace-making. Perhaps it helped to relieve the tedium and the loneliness of her imprisonment?

For centuries women in poverty and their children have been making lace, in their homes and in the workhouse. Lace Schools were established but, sadly, they were often exploited. During the 19th-century Industrial Revolution machines replaced skilled workers and Charlotte was acutely aware of the effect this had in her lifetime,despite a concerted effort in the 1930s to revive and find new markets for the craft, the art of lace-making has nearly disappeared.

Today we ask the question can charitable organisations, education and ethical fair trade help to revive and maintain the craft of lace-making while also protecting those who are exploited for their skills?

In Sri Lanka there is little doubt that crafts workers are exploited. Their earnings are low and unless increased they have no income at all.

They have been left in a position where they have nowhere to turn. It is a slow haul which requires a passion for the wellbeing of the people, training and looking at ways to produce goods to appeal today. Marketing, presentation and finally sales can impact but unless social responsibility funds are available or charity funds found to improve their live / work conditions their lives and future remain dire.
Current exhibition:

2009 ‘Romance and Reality’
Costume Exhibition By Andrea Galer
Supporting the Power of Hands Foundation 25th June - 23rd July 2009
Open Monday - Saturday 11am-5pm and Sundays 11am-4pm
Wells and Mendip www.wellsmuseum.org.uk