Shared Histories: Diverse Views
Shared Histories - Diverse Views is a cross-border project organised by Photo Museum Ireland in partnership with Donegal County Council, Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny, the Nerve Centre, Derry~Londonderry and the National Library of Ireland. The project is supported by Creative Ireland’s Creative Communities on a Shared Island Scheme and the project partners.
Shared Histories is a transformative initiative designed to engage communities on both sides of the border, encouraging them to explore their heritage and share experiences through photography. The project team will work with participants to delve into the National Library of Ireland's vast photo archive to research how photography has recorded their area. The project will explore participants’ family albums and share recent work by Irish and international photographers who have photographed diverse border communities. An experienced artist will be recruited to work with the participants to create a contemporary representation of the borderlands. The project will create new sustainable photographic archives, shared locally at co-curated public events and on social media platforms, establishing lasting relationships.
Project Objectives
- Connect cross-border communities through creative engagement.
- Foster mutual understanding and cooperation between diverse groups.
- Promote cultural expression, inclusivity, and well-being.
- Challenge stereotypes and present authentic representations.
- Encourage civic engagement and consensus-building.
- Utilise photography as a tool for cultural preservation and storytelling.
The project brings together these organisations, each contributing their expertise in arts, culture, and heritage. Shared Histories - Diverse Views offers a transformative cultural experience, uniting diverse communities and challenging preconceptions through the lens of photography. Join us on this remarkable journey as we explore shared histories and diverse views in the borderlands.
Day 1 - Shared Histories - Diverse Views
Venue: TBD
10:00: Welcome, discussion of project goals and introductions for participants & team.
10:15 - 11:15: Photo Album - Exploring Family Histories Introduction to the Photo Album of the Irish led by Trish Lambe and Darren Campion. Participants are invited to outline their interest in the project and share their family histories.
11:15 - 11.30: Break
11.30 - 12.30: Views of Others
Illustrated talk and discussion of photographs made in the locality by leading Irish and international photographers. This will include works featured in the Reframing the Border project organised by the 3 partners and the work of Akihiko Okamura Led by Trish Lambe
12.30 - 13:30 pm: Lunch and refreshments
1.30 - 2.30 pm: Representing the Borderlands: Illustrated talk and online exploration of archival photographs of the Donegal/Derry~Londonderry area including images held in the National Library of Ireland's collection. Talk by photo historian Dr Orla Fitzpatrick online & Q & A
2.30 - 3.00 pm: Preserving our Family Photo Archives: Family album archiving, introduction to digitising your family photographs and how to care for your family archives. Discussion of participants' family photographs and family album scanning. Led by Trish Lambe
Day 2 - Shared Histories - Diverse Views
Both Groups - Cross Border Bus Tour
Regional Cultural Centre & Nerve Centre: 10:30 - 3:00 pm
The tour will involve a tour around the borderlands to landmarks or other historic landmarks and locations featured in the research of the project. It will also include a hands-on Smartphone workshop with artist/photographer Ben Malcolmson who will share photography skills and work with the participants to create new photographs of their locality.
Day 3 - Shared Histories - Diverse Views
Regional Cultural Centre
10:00: Refreshments and overview of the day
10:15 - 12.30 pm with 11.00 - 11:15 (Break)
AR workshop exploring the creative potential of Augmented reality and learning new skills led by the team from the Nerve Centre, Derry~Londonderry.
12.30 - 1.30 pm : Lunch and refreshments
1.30 - 3.15 pm : Family album scanning and completion of outputs. Recording of 400-word description, short videos and collection of family album data from participants. Led by the Photo Museum Ireland team. Return of all photographs to participants.
Nerve Centre
10:00: Refreshments and overview of the day
10:15 - 12.30 pm with 11.00 - 11:15 (Break)
Family album scanning and selection of final images for participants’ contribution. Recording of 400-word description, short videos and collection of family album data from participants. Led by the Photo Museum Ireland team. Return of all photographs to participants.
12.30 - 1.30 pm : Lunch and refreshments
1:30 - 3:15 pm : AR workshop exploring the creative potential of Augmented reality and learning new skills led by the team from the Nerve Centre, Derry~Londonderry.
Profile on Commissioned Artist: Ben Malcolmson
Ben Malcolmson is a visual artist & curator from Belfast and based in Dublin. His fine art practice explores the parameters of photography, video and sculpture using alternative photographic processes with relation to one’s land and identity. His curatorial interests encompass, social engagement and activism through a public-centred approach, particularly for young people. He has exhibited work nationally and internationally in Ireland, UK and The Netherlands, he has spoken at conference events and delivered numerous facilitation workshops at his time working at Belfast Exposed as Assistant Curator (2022-23). Ben is a current studio artist based at Flax Artist Studios in the Emerging Artist Programme, and was a cohort member in Constellations programme by Up Projects in partnership with Flat Time House (2023-24).
