Bristol Museums and Libraries have been working with Bedminster and Filwood organisations to capture and share community stories through a grant-funded Sharing Stories project.
These stories are now available for everyone to discover in a whole host of exciting formats at Bedminster Library and Filwood Library over the next two months.
The culmination of six months of extensive engagement, events and activities, this high street project focusses on East Street and Filwood Broadway. It has resulted in a wonderful range of eclectic stories unearthed from communities old and new. Ranging from tales of building the pigsty at Windmill Hill City Farm, to 10 food wonders of the world, there are many stories from all corners of Bedminster and Filwood days gone by.
In Bedminster, acta Community Theatre worked in collaboration with residents to capture stories by running creative workshops, such as poetry, sculpture and graffiti, and collecting audio recordings. East Street shoppers, members of Creative Space Redcliffe, the Making Time group, and Dean Lane Skate Park community all got involved and shared their tales.
In Filwood Broadway, Filwood Community Centre explored stories that related to the theme of food. They ran photography workshops, working with groups including the We Are More after school club and the One Love Hub. They also collected food stories through song and poetry at an open mic night hosted at Filwood Library. Highlights included ‘A Pizza my Story’ and ‘Bamboozled by Cheese’ poems and songs such as ‘Jelly Don’t Shake’.
Knowle West Media Centre, who closely coordinated the project, also supported a group of young emerging designers to work closely with the stories that were collected. They carefully transformed them into designs for two unique displays that have been fabricated by KWMC: The Factory, a community makerspace in Knowle West.
Kate Murray, Head of Bristol Libraries, said: “The Sharing Stories project has been such a wonderful journey and a great way of growing our relationships with the diverse communities of Filwood Broadway and Bedminster. We look forward to welcoming visitors to our libraries to discover these exhibitions.”
Philip Walker, Head of Culture, added: “Working alongside local communities to co-curate exhibitions is integral to our service. This project has been an excellent opportunity to strengthen our engagement approach and learn more about how to best represent the diverse communities of Bristol through our public displays.”
Sharing Stories received £89,357 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK by investing in communities and place, supporting local business, people and skills.
Discover the Sharing Stories displays at Bedminster Library, 4 Bedminster Parade BS3 4AQ, and Filwood Library, 10 Filwood Broadway BS4 1JN until 31 March 2025.
The exhibition will be open in line with Bedminster Library’s Opening Times – please see their website for up to date information.
Image credits KWMC Scott Piggott
