Building on Records formerly at Risk with Young Artivists

We came back to Friction’s planned refurbishment at the Edge to see how the building work is going with ‘Young Artivists’, members of CREATE Youth panel aged 8 to 18, also members of Friction Art Club, to review and build on our Archive work creatively, and document the build.   After delays, there are signs of building work, mainly to provide amenities for builders, but it has begun!

We spent much of our time in the storage room, Edge 1 Unit, new home to newly started Friction Archives.  The partnership between PHC and Friction began with support From The National Archives ‘Records at Risk’ programme. In 2022 Friction were fortunate to receive funding from the Arts Council for a substantial refurbishment of the Edge, their HQ, which meant the entire building would need to be emptied, stored and then returned to the new building a year later. The main buiding is emptied, policies and procedures embeded, training completed, maintenance and administration plan in place, we’re working with Friction, in particular with ‘Young Artivists’, to use and build on our Archives creatively.

For our first site visit with CREATE, we took photos, drew some charcoal sketches and had a think about what we’re going to do this summer.  Friction have run a summer art club every year for a concentrated week or two of fun. This year CREATE are involved in the planning of activities and may curate/ lead workshops on the theme of ‘Home in Highgate’. We’re working with local partners to find out what young people think of Highgate over a series of workshops in local youth and community centres, inspired by Friction Archives, as well as walk locally and interviews with local Young People. The

In parallel with our work in Highgate, we are about to make some deposits to Birmingham Archives and Collections, where Friction will have it’s own collection code. Friction Archive will be linked across to the City Collections in Birmingham Archives and Collections, Shakespeare Memorial Library and Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.

It will be an exciting time this summer as our Young Artivists take ownership of Friction Archives, curating their own exhibition and activity for local young people, creatively working with Archives, sparking conversation and documenting ‘Highgate Youth Voice’ which will return to be a part of Friction Archive.