DREAMING
MUSEUMS
Breaking down barriers and exploring local heritage with young people
One Area
Through
Time
MIDLAND ACTORS THEATRE
BIRMINGHAM, UK
The Balsall Heath Project
In this project, we worked with groups of young people to explore the history of one area – Balsall Heath in Birmingham.
Originally, the population of Balsall Heath was predominantly English, with a history of local migration to the area. There was also a Jewish presence from the end of the 19th century. From the 1930s onwards, the area saw the arrival of Yemeni, Irish, African Caribbean and South Asian communities.
The project explored the impact of these communities on the area through time – and the traces of these different communities that remain, in buildings, street names, and photographs, as well as in people's memories.
Age group: 12-14
Methods used: Oral History Interviews + Devised drama performances + Films + Heritage Trails + Photography + Digital storytelling
Here's an example of the work we did...
HERITAGE TRAIL
A group of young people at George Dixon Academy created a map of Balsall Heath on a large sheet of paper. They marked on some of the buildings and landmarks
They were helped by Val Hart, who has written a book about the history of Balsall Heath.
Then, they were taken on a guided tour of the area, by Professor Carl Chinn.
Carl grew up in Balsall Heath – and he shared his own memories of local shops, schools etc., and the people who once lived there.
You can find out more about the One Area Through Time project here.
The "One Area Through Time" project is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund
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