Case Study
Campfire Heritage Stories
Interactive and inclusive storytelling around a campfire at Chiltern Open Air Museum
(Above) Photo Credit: Cat Humphries
Fund and priority area: Strategic Fund – Culture: Accessible and inclusive cultural participation
Who – Chiltern Open Air Museum is home to a traditional working farm and 37 rescued heritage buildings which illustrate the lives of ordinary people who have lived and worked in Buckinghamshire for centuries.
What
A grant of £30,000 was awarded to deliver a three-year creative community engagement programme that aimed to diversify Chiltern Open Air Museum’s collection and audience.
- At their March 2024 event, the Museum welcomed 75 visitors to listen to the stories and reminiscences of Storytellers (community representatives) Sejal Sachdev, Karen Bonner MBE, Bhogilal Tailor and Elizabeth Dench, inspired by evocative words, personal objects and items from the Museum’s collection. A second event this year, in October, engaged three Storytellers – two Ukrainian refugees and one from Afghanistan – who have found safety in Buckinghamshire.
- The Museum’s website has been developed so the events, interviews with the Storytellers and responses from the public can be shared online.
- Recordings and images from the campfire events, and the interviews, are being curated in readiness for uploading to 10 tablets with headphones, which will become an interactive attraction for future visitors.
- As a direct result of engagement with South Asian communities, the Museum welcomed over 450 visitors for a Diwali-themed Terrific Tuesday, as part of its regular school holiday family activity offering.
I really enjoyed listening to everyone. You have created a fantastic project and I loved the inclusive nature of the format. Thank you for asking me… I feel so honoured.
Sejal Sachdev -Storyteller
(Above) Photo Credit: Cat Humphries
Learning
- The Museum worked with Storytellers from Caribbean, South Asian and refugee communities with which they have had little engagement and have been under-represented in the Museum’s collection.
- The campfire storytelling attracted a far more culturally diverse audience and included a three-generation age range.
- Campfire Heritage Stories images will be used in promotional materials and campaigns, continuing to develop the Museum’s inclusive appeal.
