Bridging Histories: Creative Changemaker Network & Consultancy
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Bristol
Department Name: School of Arts
Abstract
Our vision is a world where all people feel celebrated for who they are, rooted in our collective heritage, and empowered to make a positive change. The Bridging Histories' creative change maker network and consultancy will provide a vehicle for community-building, community investment, and positive changemaking, that appeals to people across the social and political spectrum. This funding will secure the foundations for an ongoing enterprise which we expect will become financial self-sustaining, with long-lasting and far-reaching impact.
Our resources will support individuals, grassroots communities, public sector and private sector organisations who want to address social challenges and historical injustices while bringing communities together. Often, organisations are too scared to attempt changes, for fear of getting things wrong. If they do attempt changes, they often do so in ways that are top-down, not sensitive to the diversity of local meanings and needs, and end up not being locally appropriate. Meanwhile, at community level, individuals often have unique insights on what is needed locally and want to make their own contribution to creating more just and harmonious communities, but can find themselves blocked out of decision-making and unable to access resources and support for their ideas.
Bridging Histories enables communities to addresses these challenges by offering a unique, coherent framework for building inclusive community, with appeal across diverse social groups. Our signature six creative prompts ('I am from' poetry and storytelling, recipes, street histories, family histories, memorials and changemaking) are image-based and fun, making it enjoyable and therapeutic for people to join in with them. Our methods will enable people to build community, generate unexpected insights and mutual understanding, and support creative local and global changemaking.
Our resources will support individuals, grassroots communities, public sector and private sector organisations who want to address social challenges and historical injustices while bringing communities together. Often, organisations are too scared to attempt changes, for fear of getting things wrong. If they do attempt changes, they often do so in ways that are top-down, not sensitive to the diversity of local meanings and needs, and end up not being locally appropriate. Meanwhile, at community level, individuals often have unique insights on what is needed locally and want to make their own contribution to creating more just and harmonious communities, but can find themselves blocked out of decision-making and unable to access resources and support for their ideas.
Bridging Histories enables communities to addresses these challenges by offering a unique, coherent framework for building inclusive community, with appeal across diverse social groups. Our signature six creative prompts ('I am from' poetry and storytelling, recipes, street histories, family histories, memorials and changemaking) are image-based and fun, making it enjoyable and therapeutic for people to join in with them. Our methods will enable people to build community, generate unexpected insights and mutual understanding, and support creative local and global changemaking.
