Whose history is this?

Tue 27 March 2018 12:00 – 19:30

Learning from the extraordinary lives of everyday people.

Join us for an afternoon knowledge sharing event and celebration where artists, activists, community workers, and curators explore issues around material culture, power and untold stories.

This event marks the close of Collecting Birmingham a unique project that has, with funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, significantly developed the relevance and accessibility of Birmingham’s collections. During this three year project local communities were consulted on the objects and histories that the museum should acquire, giving these communities direct influence on the acquisition of objects.

The afternoon will feature discussion and performance from people who have made, given and curated objects now held in museums. The event will bring together speakers from Birmingham’s diverse communities, with case studies from across the UK.

Speakers include; Community Activist and Elder – Mrs McGhie Belgrave MBE; Artist – Saida Mohammed; Director of Allies Network – Nura Ali; Archivist – Abira Hussain; Sankofa Project Curator – Stephen Carl-Lokko; Collecting Birmingham Curator – Nazia Ali; Community Activist and African Caribbean Self-Help Organisation Elder – Bini Butuawka; Museum Worker and Poet – Paulette Francis Green.

The seminar will be followed by an evening reception including a very special in conversation with Vanley Burke, and an opportunity to see the latest display of his work along side the wider Collecting Birmingham Exhibition.

Come along and…

Explore the stories and objects held in our communities.

Critically reflect on the role and work of museums.

Consider the value placed on particular objects and histories.

Discuss how all our histories can be shared, celebrated and humanised.

Tickets are free, however places are limited. There will be two parts to the event, an afternoon knowledge sharing event, followed by an evening celebration, please join us for all or part of the day.

Refreshments will be provided

Image: Three Rastafarian women protest with the crowd at the site of an alleged rape in Perry Barr, 2005 © Vanley Burke

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