Exchange: Community-Led Collections Research

Discovery Museum is one of the partner organisations of a national pilot project Exchange: Community-Led Collections Research led by National Museums Scotland, to support organisations around the UK to work with community groups in their area to explore experiences of empire, migration, and life in Britain through museum collections.  

Discovery Museum set up a community steering group which has met regularly since January 2022 to shape the project and make key decisions. The group is comprised of nine people from the North East. Key community organisations are represented in the steering group.  

Image: L-R Dr Beverley Prevatt-Goldstein, Jonas Abladey and Salha Kaitesi steering group members outside Discovery Museum.

Nine people from African and Caribbean diaspora organisations across the North East are leading and engaging with Discovery Museum on specific research areas. 

The community steering group meet regularly, and with support from museum staff are undertaking new research into Discovery Museum’s collection. This research has culminated so far in the addition of a new museum trail We Are Here: Inspirational Women trail and a public event on Indentureship which was been decided by the group.  

The funding for this project has come from a grant by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) with the National Maritime Museum, London.  

Image: L-R Dr Beverley Prevatt-Goldstein, Kath Boodhai and Jonas Abladey, community steering group members inside Discovery Museum.