The Kite’s heritage takes flight with ARU’s StoryLab
Research institute to create a living archive as part of Cambridge heritage project
Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) is helping Cambridge residents tell the story of the culture of the city’s Kite area through a unique citizen heritage project.
Let’s Go Fly The Kite is a collaboration between ARU’s StoryLab research institute, Together Culture Cambridge and The Cambridge Room, with the support of the Cambridge Science Centre and funding from The National Heritage Fund.
As part of the project, the public are encouraged to take part in story-sharing events on Thursday, 24 October (6-8pm) and Saturday, 16 November (12-5pm).
The neighbourhood, which stretches east from the city centre, from Christ’s Pieces to East Road, was built in the 19th century and gets its name from its shape, with its boundaries resembling a kite. The story-sharing events aim to understand what The Kite means to Cambridge residents in the present day as well as discover the memories passed on by relatives, friends or neighbours.
Let’s Go Fly The Kite has recruited 10 local people to work as oral historians and story editors. ARU’s StoryLab will create an interactive platform and associated living archive of these memories, called the Navigator, and the Cambridge Room has helped recent ARU graduate James Hartley to make a film to share The Kite’s collective story. The Navigator will be unveiled in February, when Together Culture hosts The Festival of The Kite.
ARU’s role in the project is being co-led by Dr Fabrizio Galeazzi and Dr Violeta Tsenova. Dr Galeazzi, Associate Professor in Heritage and Creative Technologies, and Deputy Director of ARU’s StoryLab, said:
“We want to capture the memories and recollections from as many people as possible – whether it’s that you live or work in The Kite, have family history in the area, or simply enjoy visiting. Once we have heard people’s own stories about this unique neighbourhood, we’re looking forward to the exciting task of bringing the heritage of The Kite to life through this living archive.”
For further information about the story-sharing events on 24 October and 16 November at Together Culture at 5 Fitzroy Street, and to book a place, visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/story-sharing-tea-party-tickets-983309002697