Dear all

I'm posting details of a free event to celebrate the end of the Connecting 
Histories project in Birmingham on 13 June. To download a copy of the 
flyer for the event and a booking form go to 
www.connectinghistories.org.uk and click on the news section in the top 
menu bar. On that page you can also download the latest issues of the 
project newsletter.

Places are limited due to the workshops in the afternoon and will be 
allocated on a first come first served basis so please book asap. 

Best wishes
Sian Roberts
Connecting Histories, Birmingham City Archives


Archives and Communities: the Connecting Histories experience

10.00 – 4.00 Wednesday 13 June 2007

Venue: Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Centenary Square, Birmingham

This event is free and lunch will be provided.

For the past two and half years the Connecting Histories project has been 
working with a diverse range of communities all over Birmingham raising 
awareness of archives, making collections available, developing learning 
resources and supporting community history projects.  

This event will mark the end of the project and will share the project’s 
findings and experiences with others in the archives and heritage sector 
in practical and engaging ways. 

To come and find out more about the project and the lessons we’ve learnt 
(good and bad) join us in our end of project celebration.

The day aims to:
 
•	share findings, experiences and practice 
•	discuss issues relating to archives, diversity, community 
engagement and establishing partnerships
•	explore the connections between cataloguing, collection 
development, workforce development, learning and outreach
•	provide participants with ideas and practical techniques that can 
be used without huge investments of money or time

Draft programme:

10.00 – 10.30	Tea & Coffee

10.30 – 10.45	Welcome & Introductions

10.45 -11.25	Keynote address by Professor the Baroness Lola Young on 
communities, diversity and archives

11.25 -12.05		Overview of the Connecting Histories Project

12.05 - 12.30		Questions/discussion

12.30 -1.30		Lunch

1.30 - 2.20		Workshop activities

2.20 - 3.10		Workshops activities

3.10 - 3.45		Feedback & Plenary

3.45  - 4.00		Tea & Coffee

In the afternoon each participant will be able to attend 2 out of the 
following 4 sessions which will be delivered by members of the Connecting 
Histories team. Participants are asked to indicate their preference of 
workshops on the booking form.

Workshop 1 – Bridging the gap 
Assessing and meeting community needs through outreach; identifying 
sources and developing activities to use with community groups from 
diverse backgrounds; and building and maintaining relationships. 

Workshop 2 - Mapping collections for learning and diversity
Identifying hidden possibilities in your existing collections, and using 
cataloguing and collection development to support diversity and learning.

Workshop 3 – Engaging with diversity 
This session will be an opportunity to raise and discuss concerns about 
incorporating diversity into your archive service. The session will be 
primarily concerned with cultural diversity but will also consider 
diversity in its widest sense.

Workshop 4 – Archives in the landscape
Using archives to develop historical walks and trails as learning and 
community engagement tools. This session will involve walking around part 
of Birmingham city centre.

Please book by Friday 1 June at the latest but please note that places are 
limited due to the participatory nature of the afternoon and will be 
allocated on a first come first served basis. 

To book your place download a booking form from the News page on 
www.connectinghistories.org.uk 
You can return your booking form by e-mailing it to 
[log in to unmask] or by post to 
Connecting Histories, Central Library, Chamberlain Square, Birmingham B3 
3HQ. For further information contact the Connecting Histories team on 0121 
464 1607/8