Artefacts and narratives of migration: Rotherham museum collections and the Pakistani/Kashimiri community of Rotherham.
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Sheffield
Department Name: Education
Abstract
The proposed public outputs include an exhibition of the narratives of migration by the families in the schools their children attend, and in other schools and community centres in Rotherham and South Yorkshire. In addition, the visual artist working with Rotherham museums will create a work of art as part of the work for Creative Partnerships that reflects on the images and narratives of the research participants. One refereed article drawing on words and images from the dataset will also be written on the project, for an international audience.
The audience for the exhibition of the family narratives will be the families and the school communities, and the museums service and community groups in Rotherham. The audience for the visual artist's display or work or art will also be the communities of Rotherham and a wider community which would include creative artists and those involved in Creative Partnerships dissemination. It is hoped that the work of art will be also put on a web page.
An international academic audience will read the peer-reviewed article, which will go into a journal that takes image as well as text as its focus.
The audience for the exhibition of the family narratives will be the families and the school communities, and the museums service and community groups in Rotherham. The audience for the visual artist's display or work or art will also be the communities of Rotherham and a wider community which would include creative artists and those involved in Creative Partnerships dissemination. It is hoped that the work of art will be also put on a web page.
An international academic audience will read the peer-reviewed article, which will go into a journal that takes image as well as text as its focus.
Publications
Pahl K
(2008)
`Bling - the Asians introduced that to the country': gold and its value within a group of families of South Asian origin in Yorkshire
in Visual Communication
Pahl K
(2009)
Changing Identities, Changing Spaces: The Ferham Families Exhibition in Rotherham
in Moving Worlds
Pahl K
(2010)
Artifactual Literacies: Every object tells a story.
Pahl, K. And Khan, A.
(2014)
Artifacts of Resilience: Enduring Narratives, Texts, Practices Across Three Generations
Pahl K
(2014)
The Aesthetics of Everyday Literacies: Home Writing Practices in a British Asian Household The Aesthetics of Everyday Literacies
in Anthropology & Education Quarterly
| Title | Art work presented as part of Exhibition by Zahir Rafiq |
| Description | The art work included images of British Muslim everyday life including an image called 'Hope Street' which was a policeman's bicycle outside a mosque. The images were designed to appeal to people who were interested in the everyday life of British Muslims. |
| Type Of Art | Artwork |
| Year Produced | 2008 |
| Impact | As a result of this art exhibition, the PI, Kate Pahl, continued to work with Zahir Rafiq. In 2011 we were invited to co-write the research proposal for the Connected Communities large grant; 'The social, historical, cultural and democratic context for civic engagement: Imagining different communities and making them happen'. As a result of this art work project, Zahir put forward his vision which was to explore, through portraiture, British Muslims today. This idea was presented at a community event at Toynbee Hall in London in 2012, and subsequently was funded by the ESRC as part of the 'Imagine' project. |
| Title | Exhibition produced at Rotherham Central Art Gallery |
| Description | This was a community curated exhibition which was held in central Rotherham. It included glass cases with family objects inside, together with explanatory text. Art work, panels and community exhibits were also displayed on the walls. A website accompanied the exhibition. |
| Type Of Art | Artistic/Creative Exhibition |
| Year Produced | 2008 |
| Impact | The findings of the original research were shared with a wider audience via an exhibition in a local arts centre and a website www.everyobjecttellsastory.org.uk. In addition, the original data from the research was developed and repurposed to provide generic learning resources for family learning providers and families visiting museums. These resources were piloting locally and shared with practitioners nationally via an online resource pack and seminar, and through strategic partners in the family learning and museums sectors. The work of the project was also went on to influence regional (Yorkshire) and national policy around family learning in museums, as families were an underdeveloped audience and a strategic priority for the museums sector at the time. The adult learning / family learning sector also embraced the project approach as an example of best practice, which led to further partnership particularly with NIACE, and disseminating of the research approach and learning resources at a series of high profile national events. |
| URL | http://www.everyobjecttellsastory.org.uk |
| Description | The research team worked with families of British Asian heritage to collect stories and objects with them. The research demonstrated that these stories and objects were significant funds of knowledge to be drawn upon in educational and heritage settings that could shift power dynamics between families, communities and institutions to create more equitable spaces of exchange and storying. The research team also found that this way of working was under-used both in education and museum settings previous to 2008. |
| Exploitation Route | There are two potential uses of this research. One is the development of a new methodology for family learning. Family learning practitioners, adult and community educators and museum educators were encouraged to draw on family funds of knowledge, in this case, from British Asian families about stories and objects from their homes. The second use of the research was the creation of a new methodology of co-production. This involved families and communities co-curating exhibitions and websites. This could be used by museum educators, community groups and policy makers and practitioners in family learning contexts. |
| Sectors | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Education |
| URL | http://www.everyobjecttellsastory.org.uk |
| Description | The findings of the original research were shared with a wider audience via an exhibition in a local arts centre and a website www.everyobjecttellsastory.org.uk. In addition, the original data from the research was developed and repurposed to provide generic learning resources for family learning providers and families visiting museums. These resources were piloting locally and shared with practitioners nationally via an online resource pack and seminar, and through strategic partners in the family learning and museums sectors. The work of the project was also went on to influence regional (Yorkshire) and national policy around family learning in museums, as families were an underdeveloped audience and a strategic priority for the museums sector at the time. The adult learning / family learning sector also embraced the project approach as an example of best practice, which led to further partnership particularly with NIACE, and disseminating of the research approach and learning resources at a series of high profile national events. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2008 |
| Sector | Education,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
| Impact Types | Cultural,Societal |
| Description | Ferham Families: Rotherham Arts Centre |
| Organisation | Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council |
| Department | Rotherham Libraries and Cultural Services |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | the research team conducted interviews with families in Rotherham. These interviews generated materials for an exhibition which was held at Rotherham arts centre. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The partners provided some objects from their collections for the exhibitions and curating advice. |
| Impact | The Every Object Tells a Story website resulted from this collaboration. |
| Start Year | 2007 |
| Description | Paper given as part of the Writing British Asian Cities panel in Cambridge |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
| Results and Impact | The talk was on 'Narratives of Migration and Artefacts of Identity' at the British Association of South Asian Studies Conference, Cambridge, March 2007 as part of the 'Writing British Asian Cities' panel. The talk sparked questions and discussion afterwards. This project continued to attract interest after this presentation and subsequent publications (eg Pahl 2012) arose in part from this activity. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2007 |
| URL | http://www.everyobjecttellsastory.org.uk |
| Description | Artifacts of Resilience - Canada talk |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
| Results and Impact | This talk was an invited presentation as part of a project on Longitudinal Perspectives on Literacy in Educational Research invited and funded seminar funded through SSHRC Canada. The talk sparked questions and discussion. The talk led to a book chapter: Pahl, K. and Khan, A. (2015) Artifacts of Resilience: Enduring Narratives, Texts, Practices Across Three Generations. in: Julian Sefton-Green and Jennifer Rowsell (eds.) Learning and Literacy Over Time: Longitudinal Perspectives. London: Routledge. pp116-133 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
| Description | Moving People Changing Places |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | The 'Moving People, Changing Places' website unpacks the issues of migration, identity and diversity facing contemporary societies. It features information, stories, images and learning resources, with links and further reading to follow up. The website featured the 'Every object tells a story' project as one of its case studies The 'HIstory of the world in 100 objects' was one of the many projects that also used this methodology. Many museum educators around the world have drawn on this methodology in working with families. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
| URL | http://movingpeoplechangingplaces.org/identities-cultures/every-object-tells-a-story.html |
| Description | Paper for the AHRC funded end conference for Diasporas, Migration and Identities research project conference, Tate Britain |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
| Results and Impact | The talk showcased how a small project could have impact on a wide audience, through its methodology. Interest by the AHRC in participatory and collaborative methodologies. The Connected Communities programme drew on some of these ideas. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010 |
| Description | Paper for the European Educational Research Association (EERA) Vienna |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
| Results and Impact | The talk sparked discussion between the panel members. The talk led to further collaborations between colleagues at the University of Oslo. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010 |
| Description | Paper given as part of a symposium on Language biographies, multimodality and reflexivity. For the International Symposium on Bilingualism (ISB8) Oslo, Norway |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
| Results and Impact | The talk sparked discussions and stimulated thinking about the field. A special issue of the 'Social Semiotics' journal on material culture was planned. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011 |
| Description | Paper given at the 'Global Imaginaries: Writing/Migration/Place Conference, University of Lancaster UK. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
| Results and Impact | The talk was on Translating Objects: Material Cultural Practices in the Homes of the Pakistani Community in Rotherham. It prompted a discussion about the thinking of Zahir Rafiq, whose work on everyday British Asians was presented at the talk. Two impacts arose: 1. The 'Moving Worlds' article which was later written by Andrew Pollard, Kate Pahl and Zahir Rafiq from this talk 2. The 'Imagine' portrait project was devised as a result of this activity. This links the projects together. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2009 |
| URL | http://www.movingworlds.net/volumes/9/region-writing-home/ |
| Description | Paper given at the National Maritime Museum in London |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
| Results and Impact | There was a discussion about the project. The event enhanced the reach of the project and further extended the impact into the museums sector. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011 |
| Description | Paper given at the University of Padua |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
| Results and Impact | The talk sparked discussion and led to discussions of future collaborations. One of the doctoral student subsequently visited the University of Sheffield as a doctoral scholar. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| Description | Paper given on Intergenerational stories and artefacts in the homes of Pakistani heritage families in South Yorkshire, as part of a symposium in San Diego, US |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
| Results and Impact | This presentation led to discussion and questions. The book 'Artifactual Literacies: Every object tells a story' also emerged as an idea. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2009 |
| Description | Paper presented at the Inclusive Museum Conference, Leiden, Netherlands. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
| Results and Impact | The talk publicised the project to an international audience, and the discussion was useful. Further contact with partners in Australia and Europe. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2008 |
| URL | http://z08.cgpublisher.com/ |
| Description | Presentation at the Science Museum, London |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The presentation was on Co-curating practices for the public good and sparked discussion with museum educators who were interested in co-curation practices in the museum. Further interest in co-curation practices from the Science Museum leading to involvement in a research project on co-curation with the University of Leeds. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010 |
| Description | Presentation for the Museum of London's 'Keeping Cultures' conference, Museum of London |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
| Results and Impact | The talk was aimed at both academic collaborators and museum practitioners. It prompted discussion about the project. The museum sector continued to be interested in the project, eg the British Museum's subsequent project on 'A History of the World in 100 Objects'. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2008 |
| Description | Talk for 'Home Cultures' workshop at HRI, University of Sheffield organised by CEELBAS, a network of researchers |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
| Results and Impact | There was a discussion afterwards with academics from Europe as well as the UK The 'Home Cultures' special issue emerged from this talk, edited by one of the participants. This came out in 2012 and included an article that was presented in this symposium. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010 |
| Description | The Ferham families project - podcast |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
| Results and Impact | This was a podcast which was put on the Diasporas Identities Migration page. Interest in the project has continued to be high. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
| URL | http://www.diasporas.ac.uk/podcasts.htm |
| Description | • Listening methodologies: Involving families to create resources for literacy learning. Keynote talk for the National Adult Literacy Association (NALA) of Southern Ireland, (May 2009). |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The event was aimed at practitioners in Southern Ireland. As a result of this talk, many practitioners adopted the 'Every object tells a story' resource materials. County Clare adult learning service then created a new course called 'Family stories in a box' which was a 6 week course for adult ESOL learners. This was subsequently documented. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2009 |
| Description | • Research methodologies - using family stories to create family learning materials. NIACE conference on Family Learning (January 2009) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This event stimulated an engagement by NIACE in the 'Every object tells a story' learning back, which was developed from the 'Artefacts of Migration and Narratives of Identity' project. The work of the project was also went on to influence regional (Yorkshire) and national policy around family learning in museums, as families were an underdeveloped audience and a strategic priority for the museums sector at the time. The adult learning / family learning sector also embraced the project approach as an example of best practice, which led to further partnership particularly with NIACE, and disseminating of the research approach and learning resources at a series of high profile national events. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2009 |
| URL | http://www.niace.org.uk/sites/default/files/documents/publications/family/Families-learning-culture.... |