You can help shape the future of the Silk Museum and Paradise Mill.

Natalie Lane, the museum's education co-ordinator, is leading an initiative aimed at generating locally-sourced ideas for the popular visitor attraction.

Funded by the Heritage Lottery, Macclesfield residents can take part in focus groups, complete a survey, or even enter a competition to design a new exhibition.

She said: "The museum's mission is to celebrate and share the extraordinary story of Macclesfield and its community – a story of creativity, industry and enterprise. 

"Ideally, we would like the museum to feel relevant to everyone, for it to be accessible and a great day out!  

"It is important that the planning is shaped by the people who live in Macclesfield – whether they are regular visitors to the museum or didn't even know we existed before today, we want to hear from everyone."

Residents can fill out a survey, take part in focus groups or enter the 'My Macclesfield Museum' competition (Credit: Silk Museum)

There are numerous ways to get involve, including a survey and focus groups.

Those feeling creative can enter the 'My Macclesfield Museum' competition by designing an exhibit for the museum that celebrates something special about Macclesfield's history.

Natalie said: "It might be an event that was really important, a story that their Granny told them about her life working in the mills, a memorable match for the Silkmen, or even local words. Are there things that people from Macc say that aren't said elsewhere? 

"I am excited to see what people come up with."

Sharing her own ideas, Natalie added: "I am interested in making connections between the old and the new. 

"I love the Jacquard technology used on the looms and how it links with modern computing and coding. 

"I would like to see more made of that in the museum. 

"Having said that, I also love all the silk clothes and would like to see more of those on display."

Feedback will help shape the museum's future (Credit: Silk Museum)

The competition will be judged by curators at the museum.

The ideas and feedback from this process will feed into short term actions, the 2026 events programme and the museum's five-year strategy.

It will also help the museum to secure funding to make 'big changes'.

"It will all have real impact on our work," Natalie said. 

"The museum has a new director joining us in December and a new chair of trustees. 

"The start of 2026 will see the development of a five-year plan for the museum. 

"All the feedback from this process is going to shape what this plan looks like. 

"You can expect our events and exhibitions programme for 2026/27 to include suggestions from the survey and also include elements of the exhibits people enter into the competition."