Manchester Histories is proud to present the Hidden Histories, Hidden Historians exhibition at Archives+ in Manchester Central Library from 11th November 2017 until 31st January 2018.
Hidden Histories, Hidden Historians is a multi-media exhibition by five community groups from across Greater Manchester who have explored their own hidden histories; taking them on a journey to becoming historians.
Thanks to support from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Manchester Histories has worked with the Oldham Youth Council, Manchester People First, M13 Youth Project, The Inspire Centre, and FC United with Sporting Memories over the past 6-months as part of the Hidden Histories, Hidden Historians project.
With the help of experts, the groups have been delving in to their own histories and archives; selecting photographs, recording oral history interviews and filming documentary videos to form a fascinating exhibition, before their research enters the permanent Archives+ collection housed at Manchester Central Library.
The Archives+ collection includes a huge amount of archive material relating to the history of the City of Manchester, its organisations, buildings and people and the work of these groups means that future generations will be able to get an insight into their lives and stories.
Karen Shannon, CEO Manchester Histories, said: “Important histories and heritage of the diverse communities of Greater Manchester are often lost or go unrecognised. Through our Hidden Histories, Hidden Historians project we have tried to address this by equipping people with the skills, support and confidence to tell their own stories, and preserving them at Archives+ for everyone to explore.
“We hope that the groups we have worked with will use their newfound skills to continue to tell their stories so that future generations can have an insight into the lives of people today.”
Visitors to the exhibition will hear and see stories including everything from the time members of Manchester People First travelled to London to campaign for the rights of people with learning disabilities, to when Peter of FC United with Sporting Memories recalls the time when Bobby Stiles handed him his 1966 World Cup football medal.
The exhibition will allow you to see through the eyes of Khadija Akhtar Ali from Oldham Youth Council on what makes the Ali family from Oldham so unique, to how the Inspire Centre came together to renovate their building in to a cultural hub for the community of Levenshulme. And we’ll meet the people of the M13 Youth Project and follow their inspiring stories of how they love, think, create, reflect, enjoy and achieve a positive difference in the world.
The exhibition runs from 11th November 2017 until 31st January 2018 with a special launch event from 3pm-5pm on Saturday 11th November, which everyone is welcome to attend.
Plus, for anyone inspired by the exhibition and who wants to begin their own journey into researching an area of history that is of interest to them, Manchester Histories have created an informative set of toolkits that can be downloaded from the Manchester Histories website for free.
Ranging from starting a historical research project, to recording oral histories, creating and managing archives, and evaluating your project. Each of the toolkits has been written by an expert and is packed with top tips.
