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.

Led by artist & curator Ben Malcolmson Shared Histories is a transformative initiative engaging communities on both sides of the border, encouraging them to explore their heritage and share experiences through photography.

Project Objectives
The project is creating new sustainable photographic archives, shared locally at co-curated public events and on social media platforms, establishing lasting relationships. It aims to:

– 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.

Process:
Starting in March 2024 the Shared Histories project team have worked with participants from Counties Derry~Londonderry, Donegal, Fermanagh and Armagh, Louth, Monaghan and Down to explore photographic representations of the borderlands, past and present.

Artist & curator Ben Malcolmson supported by the project team has worked with participants to explore the National Library of Ireland’s vast photo archive to discover how photography has recorded their area – with input and illustrated talks by guest historians and curators.
The project team provided training on digitisation and archiving of family photographs.
Participants worked with Photo Museum Ireland’s team across a series of workshops in Letterkenny and Derry~Londonderry in March and in Crossmaglen and Louth in May 2024 to discuss their family histories and digitise their family album photographs.
Participants took part in FUTURE LAB training at the Nerve Centre in Derry/Londonderry to explore the potential of AR in March and April 2024.

Artist Ben Malcolmson and Photo Museum Ireland’s curators shared recent representations of the work by leading contemporary Irish and international photographers who have photographed diverse border communities.

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.

shared histories

Shared Histories – project programme:

WORKSHOPS 1 & 2: LETTERKENNY & DERRY

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 OthersIllustrated 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

WORKSHOP 3: CROSS BORDER TOUR

11.00am – 4.30 pm
Cross-border tour of the north west borderlands with the groups Derry~Londonderry and Donegal led by Ben Malcolmson with input from 2 local historians.

Ben worked with Brendan Maher to share photo skills during this filed trip – participants also shared photo skills with the group.

Refreshments were provided at a visit to Artlink at Fort Dunree, Inishowen, Donegal.

WORKSHOPS 4 & 5: LETTERKENNY & DERRY

10:00: Welcome, discussion of work to date

10:15 – 11:15: Photo Album – Exploring Family Histories – training in how to care for family album photo and methodologies for digitially archiving family photographs.

11:15 – 11.30: Break

11.30 – 12.30: Open discussion on family histories and feddback on project to date.

12.30 – 13:30 pm: Lunch and refreshments

1.30 – 2.30 pm: 2.30 – 3.00 pm: New frontiers – exploring the potential of new technologies. Hands-on workshop led by specialists from the Nerve Centre’s FAB LAB.

3.00 – 4.00pm: Conclusion and discussion on the co-creation of possible outputs. It was agreed that the most suitable output would be a printed publication and outdoor art events and installations.

WORKSHOP 6: NEW TECHNOLOGIES

10:00: Welcome, discussion of work to date

10:15 – 11:15: Photo Album – Exploring Family Histories – training in how to care for family album photo and methodologies for digitially archiving family photographs.

11:15 – 11.30: Break

11.30 – 12.30: Open discussion on family histories and feddback on project to date.

12.30 – 13:30 pm: Lunch and refreshments

1.30 – 2.30 pm: 2.30 – 3.00 pm: New frontiers – exploring the potential of new technologies. Hands-on workshop led by specialists from the Nerve Centre’s FAB LAB.

3.00 – 4.00pm: Conclusion and discussion on the co-creation of possible outputs. It was agreed that the most suitable output would be a printed publication and outdoor art events and installations.

WORKSHOPS 7 & 8: LOUTH & ARMAGH

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: Individual illustrated talks by artists who have made work along the border including Peter McKee, Ruth Gonsalves Moore and Ciaran Dunbar.

3.15 – 4.30 pm Evaluation of workshops and discussion of next stage.

WORKSHOP 9 & 10: BORDER TOUR LOUTH ARMAGH

11.00am – 4.30 pm
Cross-border tour of the north east borderlands with the groups Armagh & Louth led by Ben Malcolmson with input from local historian. Ben shared photo skills during this filed trip which took in Carlingford, Crossmaglen, South Armagh, north Louth and Down. Refreshments were provided in Dundalk, County Louth.

UPCOMING: 20 AUGUST: FAMILY ALBUM SCANNING IN CROSSMAGLEN

Join us for this open workshjop inviting you to can and share photographs from your family album that give and insight into the history of the borderlands – this is a free event.

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).