Eternal Connections
Lead Research Organisation:
Historic Environment Scotland
Department Name: Conservation Group
Abstract
This project uses Historic Environment Scotland's (HES) upgraded heritage science equipment to stimulate discussion and creative practice around the heritage of Scotland's Muslim communities. Working with 3D models, creative practitioners, and community groups, it will use scientific analysis and research data to engage and work with a community not traditionally associated with Scotland's heritage. Through active collaboration between the project partners, we will find new ways of understanding and imagining the contemporary and historic connections between Scotland and Islam.
Publications
8th Braid Salaam Scouts
(2022)
Blog: History is fun with the 8th Braid Salaam Scouts
Alea Ibrahim
(2022)
Blog: The curious case of Caerlaverock Castle's Islamic glass
Claire Mullaney
(2022)
Press release: Medieval Islamic glass reveals untold histories
Lisa Brown
(2022)
Eternal Connections
in Celebrating Archaeology in Scotland 2022
Susan Swarbrick
(2022)
An Eternal Enigma
in Historic Scotland: The Magazine for Historic Scotland Members
| Title | Eternal Connections digital exhibition |
| Description | Eternal Connections Digital Exhibition of Amina Womens Resource Centre work, led by Vicky Mohieddeen. Historic Environment Scotland commissioned Vicky to create a digital exhibition of the work produced that can be shared online or as a pdf in blogs, newsletters, etc. The exhibition features original work by the participants as well as photographs from the first and second phases of the project. |
| Type Of Art | Artistic/Creative Exhibition |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Impact | We have showcased the exhibition at Engine Shed events, where the response has been wholly positive about the project and the impact it has had, both on participants and audiences. |
| Title | Glass beaker reconstuction |
| Description | Working with 3D models, creative practitioners, and community groups, the Eternal Connections project utilised scientific analysis (captured using CapCo funded equipment) and research data to engage and work with a community not traditionally associated with Scotland's heritage. Through active collaboration between the project partners, the team found new ways of understanding and imagining the contemporary and historic connections between Scotland and Islam. Artist Alice Martin undertook a wide programme of research into the Islamic glass fragments, then made her own digital reconstruction 3D model of how the glass fragments would have looked when as an intact glass beaker. Alice's research was captured in 3 YouTube videos, and shared as a Sketchfab model. Background and shape - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIug-9CWmuQ Islamic calligraphy - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q05_1rZpbgg Fish imagery - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZMwrz-ey4g |
| Type Of Art | Artefact (including digital) |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Impact | Alice's Sketchfab model is free to download so other artists or creative practitioners around the world can use the data, remix or 3D print their own version. By making this open access, it is hoped this will inspire further creative responses. At the time of writing, the Sketchfab model has been viewed 517 times and downloaded 6 times. |
| URL | https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/glass-beaker-reconstruction-caerlaverock-castle-c697dcc193cf42858060... |
| Title | Replica Islamic glass vessels manufacture |
| Description | Alice Martin has continued to take forward her research into Islamic drinking vessels, and made new contacts at the V&A and Edinburgh University which have helped her to learn more about medieval Middle Eastern glass working, and the types of inscription they featured. This has culminated in Alice having replica glass vessels made in Cairo, based on the 3D prints created for the project, through contacts developed at the Barakat Trust. |
| Type Of Art | Artefact (including digital) |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Impact | Provided tangible artefacts for future exhibitions and engagement activities and will support Alice's future funding bids. |
| Title | The Art of Eternal Connections |
| Description | The Art of Eternal Connections: follow on exhibition, subject to external funding, led by Alice Martin 27/02/2023: We have supported Alice Martin's follow on funding application to Creative Scotland, which would see outreach and events in Dumfries and Galloway, including at Caerlaverock Castle. Unfortunately this was unsuccessful, but we will continue to support Alice on further applications. 02/03/2023: Alice Martin initiated a new application to the Barakat Trust for a revised version of the bid: https://barakat.org/grants/hands-on-islamic-arts-grants-guidance/. Unfortunately this application was unsuccessful to the Barakat Trust, but Alice received very positive feedback and their director has helped her make contacts and promised support for a further application she's making to Creative Scotland. We hope this output will be realised in 2024, and we will continue to support Alice. |
| Type Of Art | Artistic/Creative Exhibition |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Impact | Not realised as yet. |
| Description | HES have been collaborating on the Eternal Connections project in 2022. This involved using a trio of Islamic glass fragments, discovered by archaeologists at Caerlaverock Castle in the late 1990s, to inspire conversations and creative responses about the heritage of Scotland's Muslim communities. The project ran in three phases. In the first, HES staff used cutting-edge research and digital documentation techniques to understand more about the fragments and their composition. This work was supported by a suite of new equipment we obtained through a £650k grant from the Arts and Humanities Research Council. In the second phase, Stirlingshire-based visual artist Alice Martin researched other examples of medieval Islamic glass and worked with our data to produce a 3D- digital reconstruction of what the original beaker might have looked like. In the third phase, we worked with two Muslim community groups: the Muslim Scouts in Edinburgh, and the Glasgow-based AMINA - Muslim Women's Resource Centre, to run a series of workshops centred on Alice's reconstruction, and the story of the Islamic glass. The sessions were all about creative responses to the glass fragments, their story, and the historical connections between Scotland and Islam. The groups worked with 3D printed models of Alice's reconstruction to create their own versions of what the beakers might have looked like and used calligraphy and drawings to create their own artistic responses to the themes of movement and migration. In one workshop, the Muslim Scouts learned more about the scientific research we'd done on the fragments, and how we use things like x-rays to understand more about the material composition of objects. Both groups also visited a HES property - the Scouts enjoyed a facilitated visit to Stirling Castle, and AMINA's group visited Caerlaverock. We used ThingLink platform to share all the outputs, pictures, research, and stories from Eternal Connections. Eternal Connections has been a truly collaborative project, working closely across teams within HES, and with our community partners. Creative Wellbeing Practitioner, Vicky Mohieddeen, who ran workshops centred on Alice's reconstruction, and the story of the Islamic glass with AMINA, said: "Eternal Connections provoked very strong reactions within our group - more than I think anyone could have anticipated. These small pieces of glass held within them themes of separation, uncertainty, homeland and family - themes with a particular resonance for our group. "Many of the women in our group are prevented from working and participating in society due to the UK asylum system, so allowing them the opportunity to share their own extensive knowledge about history and culture with the HES team had a big impact." |
| Exploitation Route | We are currently working with our Eternal Connections project partners to support them in two associated follow up projects. One is by our artist partner, Alice Martin, who is seeking further funding to deliver an exhibition on her creative practice and artistic outputs from the project. The second is by our creative wellbeing partner, Vicky Mohieddeen, who is seeking further funding to deliver a digital exhibition on the Amina Womens Resource Centre creative outputs and the impact the project had on the women who took part. We are also looking for further opportunities to continue our partnerships with 8th Braid Salaam Scouts. We hope this project will inspire others to develop similar community and creative based projects to demonstrate the wider impact of heritage science. |
| Sectors | Communities and Social Services/Policy Culture Heritage Museums and Collections |
| Description | The outputs from the Eternal Connections project will be used to support delivery of the Historic Environment Scotland Equality Outcomes for 2021-2025. The project has resulted in a significant societal impact for the participants from the Amina Womens Resource Centre. Following the creative practice sessions they mentioned the following impacts: Greater sense of community Reduced isolation Greater sense of purpose Learning and gaining knowledge Practicing English Gaining life skills Expressing selves One participant wrote: I am sad that the project is over. I used to run to [the class] every week as if I were to meet my family. It made me very happy, away from worries and made me feel comfortable. Leave behind the worries in the heart and learn good things. The most interesting thing was to throw away things that worry us and truly make a positive impact in life. I hope that these classes are offered again so I can attend. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2022 |
| Sector | Communities and Social Services/Policy |
| Impact Types | Societal |
| Description | The Art of Eternal Connections - Led by collaborator Alice Martin |
| Amount | £10,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Creative Scotland |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2024 |
| End | 08/2025 |
| Title | Eternal Connections ThingLink |
| Description | We have developed a free to access ThingLink webtool to share the results of primary research, scientific analysis, engagement workshops and site visits conducted throughout the Eternal Connections project. This is published online and meets accessibility criteria. The ThingLink can be accessed and explored here: https://www.thinglink.com/card/1604051920832430081 |
| Type Of Technology | Webtool/Application |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Impact | The ThingLink has been very well received due to its ease of access and navigation, and comprehensive content. Feedback from project participants and members of the public has been wholly positive. HES will now use ThingLink as a dissemination platform going forward. |
| URL | http://www.thinglink.com/card/1604051920832430081 |
| Description | Dumfries &Galloway Creative Health & Wellbeing Symposium |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Join us at the Theatre Royal, Dumfries for a day filled with inspiring talks, networking and learning opportunities and the launch of a 'Manifesto for Creative Wellbeing in Dumfries & Galloway'. Presentation on Eternal Connections by partner Vicky Mohieddeen This event will explore the intersection of creativity, health and wellbeing, and the national & regional initiatives, strategies and research that strengthen their connections. Learn from experts in their fields, participate in discussions and connect with like-minded individuals. Whether you work in health, education, caring services, community development, the arts and culture sector, or are simply interested in the topic, this symposium will offer something for everyone. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| URL | https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/dg-creative-health-wellbeing-symposium-tickets-1146732300179 |
| Description | Eternal Connections |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | This project uses Historic Environment Scotland's (HES) upgraded heritage science equipment to stimulate discussion and creative practice around the heritage of Scotland's Muslim communities. Working with 3D models, creative practitioners, and community groups, it will use scientific analysis and research data to engage and work with a community not traditionally associated with Scotland's heritage. Through active collaboration between the project partners, we will find new ways of understanding and imagining the contemporary and historic connections between Scotland and Islam. PLANNED WORKSHOPS We will deliver a series of workshops with partners in summer 2022. Starting with fragments of a Islamic glass beaker in HES collections, we will use 3D models created as part of the project, and will run a series of collaborative, creative workshops with Scottish Muslim community groups. The sessions will bring heritage directly to under-represented groups, and produce creative responses to the questions of identity, belonging, and connection posed by the object. Project Partner: Muslim Scouts For the Scouts, we will run two workshops as part of the Scout's weekly 90-minute Friday meetings in Edinburgh. Workshops will take the form of a calligraphy session, with participants learning to write some of the 99 names of Allah in Arabic script. Working with our Gaelic team, and building on the themes of identity and connection raised in an earlier site visit, we will translate these names into Gaelic, and combine Arabic and Gaelic imagery to produce drawings of how participants themselves think the Islamic glass beaker might have looked. Workshop 3 will see HES bring along the CapCo equipment and demonstrate it in action via a mix of live and pre-prepared demonstrations. Along with showcasing the capabilities of the equipment, this will provide an opportunity to promote heritage science as a career. Project Partner: Amina For Amina, we will run a series of four workshops with a group of up to 8 women from Middle Eastern or Kurdish Sorani communities. We are particularly keen to engage with women who are asylum seekers or refugees, a group that Amina have long experience of supporting. We will draw on Amina's previous experiences of producing the Life in the Time exhibition with over a hundred Muslim and BME women, and adopt a similar creative approach by running discussion sessions mixed with poetry and postcard writing, video and podcast production. OUTPUTS AND IMPACTS Eternal Connections will produce: new knowledge about HES's collections; a series of creative responses to this heritage; and 3D models accessible to the public. The project's main impacts will be softer. First and foremost, we want participants to see themselves in Scotland's heritage, and to help us find ways to tell a more inclusive story about our society and past. Scotland's Muslims are under-represented across the heritage sector, both in terms of our workforce and in the stories we tell. We cannot change this with just one project, but through co-production and collaboration we can better understand the issues and barriers facing Muslims in contemporary Scotland. To understand if the project has had an impact on participants, we will conduct a light-touch, informal survey of those involved before and after the project starts and ends. This will also help us to reflect on what worked and what didn't so that we can improve future practice. By using the eternal connections revealed by the Islamic Glass and our investigations into it, we are starting a conversation about how we can better represent Scotland's Muslim heritage. Success factors will include the number of direct and indirect participants; new potential partnerships identified; and new resources created for education and learning. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Eternal Connections presentation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presentation by Lyn Wilson, Anila Mirza, Lynsey Haworth, Adam Frost to Historic Environment Scotland's Research & Climate Change Team Dialogues on 27 October 2022. This presentation demonstrated the impact and reach of this collaborative project, and detailed the specific use of the CapCo purchased specialist heritage science equipment. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Eternal Connections presentation to National Heritage Science Forum |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Lisa Brown gave a presentation on the use of the CapCo heritage science equipment and the Eternal Connections project to the National Heritage Science Forum - Communities Working Group on 22 September 2022. This was attended by around 30 heritage professionals and sparked discussion and ideas about future activites. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Eternal Connections: Translating the Unknown |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | Invitation from UNESCO chair in Refugee Integration through Language and Arts to present on the Eternal Connections project on 4 June 2024 at their Spring School, University of Glasgow. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.linkedin.com/posts/vmohieddeen_final-day-of-prep-before-we-present-eternal-activity-7198... |
| Description | Exhibition at Harbour Cottage Gallery, Kirkudbright |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Art exhibition developed and led entirely by our project collaborator, Alice Martin. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Our Place In Time Engagement Workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Our Place in Time is Scotland's Historic Environment Strategy and is currently being refreshed. Anila Mirza ran a workshop during the strategy consultation period on 20 August 2022, with Amina Womens Resource Centre, who were our partner in Eternal Connections. The women contributed their views on what heritage means to them and shared their thoughts on what Historic Environment Scotland and its partners could do to remove barriers for refugee women to support them to create a sense of belonging. This engagement project was based on the scientific equipment procured through the CapCo grant. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Our Place In Time Innovation Workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Our Place In Time (OPiT) is Scotland's historic environment strategy. It is currently being refreshed by Historic Environment Scotland on behalf of Scottish Ministers. We held a workshop on innovation at the Engine Shed, Stirling on 06 September 2022, at which Lyn Wilson, Sophia Mirashrafi, Adam Frost and Maureen Young showcased the heritage science equipment purchased through our CapCo grant, and the Eternal Connections ThingLink produced with this Impact grant. Around 75 heritage professionals from across the UK attended, which sparked requests for further showcases and started dialogue on potential collaborative projects using this equipment. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.historicenvironment.scot/about-us/news/be-part-of-history-and-have-your-say-on-scotland-... |
| Description | Presentation at Scottish Museums Federation conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presentation by Lynsey Haworth on Eternal Connections project, with a focus on the impact of the glass objects, their analysis and digital documentation, in communicating and engaging audiences with heritage. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Presentation by Vicky Mohieddeen at AHRC RICHeS Launch Event at the Engine Shed on 03 March 2023. Talk title: Eternal Connections - Exploring Displacement and Belonging Through Heritage |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | At the AHRC run launch event, we had the opportunity to invite partners to speak about the impacts of heritage science. Vicky Mohieddeen, our partner in Eternal Connections spoke about the impact this project (and the resultant impact from the CapCo equipment fund) had on the group of women from the Amina Womens Resource Centre that took part. It was the intention that this talk would spark discussion around how heritage, and heritage science can have wider societal impacts. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Scientific analysis of inorganic archaeological materials |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Invited presentation to University of Edinburgh studetns on 18 March 2025 by Dr Maureen Young on Eternal Connections project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | Wigton Book Festival Glass Painting Workshop developed and hosted by Alice Martin |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Art workshop focusing on glass painting, developed from the Eternal Connections project. Developed and led entirely by our project collaborator Alice Martin. Take part in a glass painting workshop for adults using traditionally made replicas sourced from Cairo, with the assistance of the Barakat Trust. Three fragments of mediaeval Islamic glass crafted in the Mamluk period in Syria or Egypt will be our reference. The artefacts were uncovered in the late 1990s at Caerlaverock Castle in Dumfries & Galloway and would have come from a drinking beaker containing an inscription giving a generic blessing conveying good health. Each participant will be encouraged to paint their glass beakers in the style of the medieval period, drawing from templates and printouts for inspiration. Acrylic enamel paints will be used so that the handmade processes can be replicated. There will be an opportunity for everyone to exhibit their pieces as part of a community display at Harbour Cottage Gallery, Kirkcudbright, from 28 April until 3 May 2025 (exact times to be announced) and at Caerlaverock Castle for one weekend in July 2025 as part of an exhibition reflecting on identity and connection across time and place. All workshop materials will be provided, and the painted vessels will be returned to workshop participants following the end of the project programme free of charge. The Art of Eternal Connections is a follow-up project to Eternal Connections, which took place in 2022 in partnership with Historic Environment Scotland, visual artist Alice Martin, the Muslim Scouts of Edinburgh, and AMINA - The Muslim Women's Resource Centre, which encourages conversations around Scotland's Muslim communities. Supported by the National Lottery through Creative Scotland |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://tickets.wigtownbookfestival.com/sales/main-programme/events/wbf-2024/events/eternal-connecti... |