We were delighted to celebrate this project with with participants, partners, and supporters at a special pop-up exhibition, where the community came together to reflect on the project’s journey and see their contributions brought to life in print. The event was a powerful moment of recognition—honouring the creativity, conversations, and connections that shaped Shared Histories: Diverse Views.

Shared Histories: Diverse Views was a bold, cross-border initiative that brought together communities to explore heritage, identity, and collective memory through photography. This pop-up exhibition and publication marked the culmination of an ambitious and deeply meaningful project—one that forged new connections, built cultural understanding, and created a lasting photographic archive of life along the borderlands.

Photography is a powerful tool for storytelling and cultural preservation. Shared Histories: Diverse Views was not just about documenting history; it was about empowering communities to reclaim their narratives, reflect on the past, and shape a shared future. Through rediscovering and creating images, participants engaged in meaningful dialogue about identity, place, and memory, fostering deeper cross-border connections in the process.

At its heart, this project was driven by the voices, experiences, and creativity of those who call the borderlands home. By coming together to reflect on shared histories, participants deepened their own understanding and contributed to a vital cultural archive that will inform and inspire future generations. The impact of Shared Histories: Diverse Views is not just in the photographs displayed but in the relationships formed, the knowledge exchanged, and the commitment to continued dialogue.

As a lasting testament to the project’s impact, the Shared Histories: Diverse Views publication brings together the stories, photographs, and reflections that emerged throughout the initiative. This beautifully designed book is more than a record—it is a collective expression of memory, identity, and the evolving landscape of the borderlands.

Featuring archival photographs alongside newly digitised family images and contemporary perspectives, the publication captures the richness of lived experiences across generations. Essays by project contributors, historians, and artists provide deeper insight into the themes explored, offering a thoughtful reflection on how photography shapes our understanding of history and place.

With striking visuals and compelling narratives, the book stands as both a celebration of community storytelling and an essential resource for those interested in photography, cultural heritage, and cross-border dialogue.

The success of this initiative highlights the need for sustained investment in cultural projects that foster dialogue, preserve heritage, and empower communities. Shared Histories: Diverse Views has laid the groundwork for future cross-border collaborations, and we are committed to building on its momentum.

With the continued support of funders and project partners, we can expand this vital work, ensuring that photography remains a powerful means of connection and storytelling for generations to come.

This project was made possible through the collaboration of Photo Museum Ireland, Donegal County Council, Regional Cultural Centre Letterkenny, the Nerve Centre Derry~Londonderry, and the National Library of Ireland, with support from Creative Ireland’s Creative Communities on a Shared Island Scheme.