Friction and Heritage – How can Culture Heal?
PHC and Friction (Marcus and Manon) presented at Community Archives and Heritage Group annual conference at UCL 10th July 2024. It was a day packed with presentations around digitisation, how, when (and sometimes if) Local Authorities can help, and, of course, engaging new audiences, ‘keeping community at the heart of archives’.
Our presentation started with Sandra’s Friction quote: ‘We don’t do driveby Art’, and how PHC have adapted it to ‘We don’t do driveby Archives’. We work with people, make sure they keep ownership of their stories and explore achives creatively with them. It’s no good just conserving and making archives accessible, the archives need to have meaning and purpose to the people who own them.
Friction Arts and People’s Heritage Co-operative (PHC) are creating ‘Friction Archives’ led by our Young Artivists, aged 8-18, delving into our past, sharing stories, and creating a lasting partnership to build, celebrate and create. For the last ten years PHC has managed the first and only ARCHON registered state Primary School Repository Archive with Paganel School after-school Archives Club – PHC has extensive experience working with Young People and Archives to tell stories with local communities. Likewise for over 30 years Friction have worked locally, including being based within the now closed Birmingham Wholesale Market. Many related businesses and industries, like abattoirs, metalworks, wholesale vegetable and flower suppliers are still based nearby, alongside faith centres and nightclubs. With a largely working class population,the area is changing rapidly, much being demolished and replaced with flats local residents can’t afford.
Together with local organisations we have started ‘Highgate Cultural Action Area’. Our Young Artivists have begun exploring our shared heritage with residents to develop a sense of belonging and identity through the eyes of young people. Community Archives and Heritage Group conference was an opportunity to chat to fellow community archivers from all over the UK about how people can use archives creatively, representing our culture. Great to see the diversity of Archives from small Scottish communities, digitised and crafted to Rotherwas Munitionettes, and to meet the people (mainly voluntary) who are working hard representing their communities.
How Can Culture Heal? ‘Culture’ helps develop a sense of belonging and connection to a changing neighbourhood like Highgate. Thanks everyone there for your comments on how we and our local partners in Highgate Cultural Action Area can bring people together, explore and understand our changing identity.
