Local Level - resolving community issues

We have built up a sound reputation for our work in the cultural sector, which includes our community engagement work with public libraries and social inclusion work around museum-based activities.

Here are some examples of key pieces of work that we have carried out in the cultural sector over the past few years.

• In 2007 we ran workshops with residents in Manningham, Bradford, so that they could design their own consultation about the local library refurbishment. This contract concluded with the design of a treasure hunt in and around the existing building, to encourage people to understand how it might be modernised. The consultation design report can be found here and the treasure hunt report is here.

• Also in 2007 we were invited to design and run a game about libraries and galleries as 'third places', and to give a keynote presentation at a conference organised by Caloundra City Libraries in Queensland, Australia. The game is described in a blog post here.

• In 2008 we worked with the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council to run pilot projects on the theme of 'Living Library'. The idea, which originated in Denmark, involves 'borrowing' a person from a small temporary collection, under certain conditions, for the purposes of conversation. We ran three sessions in each of four libraries around England, and prepared an evaluation report which can be found here.

• In 2009 we were invited to a community picnic in north London organised by the Wellcome Collection. This was a new initiative by the museum and we carried out a short evaluation for the trustees, which is available here.

• Also in 2009, working with Chris Batt Consulting we contributed to a feasibility study for JISC on the potential for digitising and curating collections of cultural or social worth from the general public.

• In 2010 we worked with Renaissance East of England on an evaluation of museum-based activities for young people looked after. We interviewed young people in care, their carers, social workers, teachers and museum practitioners. Our report, which can be found here, suggested that consistent, sustained benefits were experienced by the young people very inexpensively.

Further information about our work in the cultural sector is summarised below.

Bradford MDC 2005-06
  Public consultation exercise on future of libraries

MLA 2006
  Study of the impact of neighbourhood governance on cultural sector
 
MLA 2007-09
  Establishing and managing Living Library pilot projects, and evaluation
 
MLA South East 2007-09
  Community engagement in museums and libraries: training, action learning   sets, evaluation
 
MLA South East 2008-09
  Mentoring for community library projects (Slough, Reading, Bucks)

DCMS 2008
  Kevin Harris was a member of the DCMS Public Libraries Impact Reference Group

JISC 2009
  Digitisation and curation of collections from the general public (working with Chris Batt Consulting)

Wellcome Trust 2009
  Evaluation of Wellcome community picnic

Cornwall Libraries 2009
  Design and delivery of community engagement workshops for Truro library
 
CILIP 2009-2010
  Preparation of policy statements and workshops on social justice and community development for the Chartered Institute for Library and Information Professionals
 
Renaissance East of England 2010-11
  Museums and young people looked after: evaluation of museum-based activities in Luton, Cambridge, Norfolk and Suffolk