"Connecting Identities"

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Date:2004

Description:Young people's photographs of Aston and Yardley.

Connecting Identities was a youth inclusion project, that involved young people using photography to explore issues around identity, izzat/pride, place, and their connection with cultural heritage. It utilised the skills of archivists, museum curators, heritage educators and professional photographers in order to develop the heritage and visual skills of youth workers in two contrasting culturally diverse urban localities - Aston and Yardley. The youth workers then supported young people (aged 14 - 16) in developing their ideas about identity, izzat/pride and place.

The young people involved determined how they would communicate their ideas to a broader audience through a process of consultation on the planning and delivery of every stagge of the project. This resulted in an exhibition shown in Birmingham Central Library in 2004 and 'Pride of Place', a book of postcards.

Connecting Identities used artefacts and archives relating to the history of Birmingham as a multicultural, multilingual, multifaith community of communities. The project aimed to raise young people's awareness of conservation and heritage issues, inclding the importance of local heritage sites (Aston Hall and Blakesley Hall) and archives and historical artefacts. It sought to explain the importance of such sites through engaging young people in interpreting their own local heritage.

Funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the project was co-ordinated by the Birmingham Libraries and Information Service working in partnership with City Archives, Birmingham Youth Service, Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery, Black Pasts Birmingham Futures, University of Birmingham School of Education and professional photographers Vanley Burke and Surjit Simplay.