Urban&Civic have partnered with artist, Allan Levy to create a unique digital tapestry as part of celebrations to mark the 100th anniversary of Rugby Radio Station.
The initiative will see thousands of individual pictures combined to form one main mosaic-style image that will be displayed in the local area for years to come.
Rugby Radio Station was decommissioned in 2002 then soon transformed into the award-winning Houlton School campus. Its historical significance lives on, from small details like naming the cafe The Tuning Fork, and roads names such as Maine Street, Wroughton Drive and Hertz Drive. All these elements add to the rich mix of old and new that constitute the legacy of Rugby Radio Station.
Now, the milestone anniversary for Rugby Radio will gain an additional marker thanks to the Houlton Tapestry project. The mosaic will go on show at Houlton School, St Gabriel’s C of E School and Rugby Museum and Art Gallery.
A special website has been set up for people to contribute their images to the digital tapestry, along with video instructions shared by Allan on how to upload them.
Houlton Tapestry – for the people of Houlton by the people of Houlton
The mosaics will be unveiled in January 2026 with a launch event hosted at the Rugby Art Gallery Museum held for the Houlton community to view the art piece made up of their collective contributions.
The Houlton Tapestry project is the first of many projects that Urban&Civic will be investing in to mark the 100 year anniversary of Rugby Radio Station, and we’ll be continuing those celebrations in 2027 as it will be 100 years since that first iconic transatlantic broadcast across the pacific to Houlton in Maine, USA.
We’d love to receive as many pictures as possible from people who live, work, learn or have a connection with Houlton. These will be put together, along with images from our schools and community groups, into a mosaic which will be displayed in Houlton for years to come.
We’re delighted to be sponsoring the work of Allan Levy to deliver this exciting project for us and hope all those that share a fondness for the history of Rugby Radio Station get involved in this hugely significant part of local history. For those who would like to know more about Rugby Radio Station’s history, they can visit the website we created back in 2015 with local historian Malcolm Hancock - RadioStation Rugby : Connecting you to now.
Johanne Thomas,
Regional Director, Communications, Communities and Partnerships at Urban&Civic
This project is for everyone who works, lives or learns in Houlton, whether you are an experienced photographer or artist or someone who has never tried anything like this before, we want your contribution. It's all about showcasing the diverse voices and talents that make Houlton special.
So what could your picture be? We want images that reflect your unique perspective on life in Houlton. Think about what inspires you and choose the medium that suits you best. Your image could be a photograph taken with your phone, a drawing, a painting. It's really up to you. The picture could be a beautiful landscape, a cafe, the allotment, or even an abstract piece that expresses your feelings. The possibilities are endless.
Allan Levy,
artist working on the Houlton Tapestry Project
Values