This Outreach Programme is organised and delivered by the Tangible Archive Research Group (TARG), which was established in the wake of the Tangible Archive Research Symposium held in December 2023.
The initiative builds on Gina Pierce’s doctoral research, which focused on the Frederick Parker archive. Her research explores innovative methodologies for engaging new and diverse audiences with archival materials. This project extends that research by investigating how tailored, creative activities can be designed for specific participant groups to facilitate meaningful interaction with archives.
The goal is to develop prototype toolkits that support archive engagement beyond traditional academic contexts, opening new pathways for public connection, interpretation, and co-creation with archival content.
Image: Stencil printing workshop at Precious Gems, Bolton, run by Gina Pierce
Project details
Research Team
Team Members
Project partner(s)
Funder(s)
Strategic Transformation Grant, London Met
Duration
February – July 2025
More about the project
- To deliver a series of archival-based creative workshops with community groups, schoolchildren, charity organisations, and museum audiences
- To collect and produce case studies evaluating the effectiveness of the creative workshops in engaging diverse audiences with archival material · To develop a range of prototype toolkits designed to support archival engagement beyond academic settings
- To test and refine the prototype toolkits within workshop environments to inform future institutional use and wider application
Artefact(s)
- Four to five prototype toolkits on archival engagement beyond traditional academic contexts
Public outreach
- Pierce, Gina (2025) Series of workshops based on the London Museum (Museum of London) archives. Venue London Museum Studios, Smithfields, 5th July – 2nd August.
- Pierce, Gina (2025) Two workshops based on the Parker Knoll archive in Special Collections for LMU staff. Venue North Campus, LMU, 3rd July.
- Pierce, Gina (2025) A workshop based on the history of the Royal Pavilion, Brighton. Venue Atelier Gallery, Brighton, 26h June.
- Pierce, Gina, Marr, Vanessa, University of Brighton, Breakell, Sue, University of Brighton (2025). A workshop with The Official Domestic Duster Project, using University of Brighton Design Archives and LMU Special Collections. Venue Atelier Gallery, Brighton, 12th June.
- Evans, Emily (2025) A workshop based on the TUC archive in the Special Collections, London Metropolitan University with The Lilliesleaf Trust UK. Venue Special Collections Learning Centre, LMU, 12th May.
- Pierce, Gina (2025) A workshop based on Bolton Museum archives with Breakdown Bolton, Commercial House, Bolton, 28th February
- Pierce, Gina (2025) A workshop based on Bolton Museum archives with Precious Gems, Bolton Museum, 26th February