Students from MA in Curation Practices have been working on a new project to bring new life to Yorkshire’s many archives.
Students Gill Crawshaw and Louise Dwyer discovered a film from 1968 in the Yorkshire Film Archive, called Community Builder which showcases the development of Hunslet Grange, Leeds, also known as the Leek Street Flats or “the Leekies”.
Image: Community Builder, an exhibition of archive and research materials by students Gill Crawshaw and Louise Dwyer
The students continued their research using resources from the local history library, but wanted to gather first-hand accounts to help bring the archive material to life. They visited The Garden Memory Café, a monthly event organised by Holbeck Elderly Aid, a neighbourhood networks that supports older people. They were able to meet with previous residents of the Leek Street Flats to show the film and talk about housing, neighbourhoods and communities.
Gill and Louise will be showing some of the archive materials to students and staff at the University to discuss any issues the film might raise for a younger audience, and look at the parallels between situations past and present. Their exhibition Community Builder is on display to staff and students at the University's Blenheim Walk building.
South Leeds Life have published an article written by the students detailing their research so far. Read more here.
To find out more about projects the MA in Curation Practices students are involved with visit their blog, Curation Street.