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Share your treasures and become part of history

M Shed

M Shed Neill Philips Photography

Press release issued: 27 June 2012

Bristolians are being called upon to share the stories behind their most treasured possessions as part of a unique hands-on history project. Whether it’s a favourite toy, football ticket or even a magazine, people are being urged to bring their special objects to M Shed on Saturday [30 June] for the Know Your Bristol event.

Whether it’s a favourite toy, football ticket or even a magazine, people are being urged to bring their special objects to M Shed on Saturday [30 June] for the Know Your Bristol event.

It’s the last in a series of events which has explored some of the city’s best-loved and most intriguing places.

University of Bristol researchers and M-Shed curators will be there to photograph your objects and talk about their meaning. All the information will be added to Bristol City Council’s Know Your Place website which builds a picture of neighbourhoods across the city through interactive maps, images and historic data.

Dr Josie McLellan, a Senior Lecturer in Modern European History at Bristol University, said: “We are very excited about working with the M-Shed on this final event in the Know Your Bristol series. We hope that people will be inspired by the museum’s collections to bring in objects that say something about their lives in Bristol, and take a few minutes to tell us about them. Clothes, magazines, photos, paintings, train sets – the more weird and wonderful the better.”

Follow-up visits can be arranged for larger items such as pianos, dolls’ houses or bomb shelters.

Visitors to M Shed on Saturday will also be able to see material gathered from previous events, which have focused on Bristol Zoo, Arnos Vale Cemetery, Kings Weston, South Bristol, Lockleaze and Hillfields. There will also be a chance to explore the Know Your Place website and hear some of the stories that have already been uploaded

Kate Miller, from the Centre for Public Engagement, said: “These events have been a wonderful opportunity to look at Bristol through the eyes of those who have lived here and seen how it has changed over the years.  We have heard some incredible stories, from the practical jokes that zookeepers used to play to moving accounts of growing up after the Second World War.”

This event is part of the Know Your Bristol project, run by the University of Bristol in partnership with Bristol City Council and local community organisations.

It’s a hands-on history project which explores some of the city’s best-loved and most intriguing places. It has been funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council as part of the Connected Communities Programme.

  • People are invited to come along to M Shed between 10am and 4pm on Saturday, 30 June. Admission is free and no booking is required.

For further information, please see the Centre for Public Engagement’s website.

 

Further information

About M Shed

Situated in the heart of Bristol’s historic harbourside, M Shed is the city’s flagship museum. The museum opened its doors in June 2011 and attracted over 700,000 visitors in its first year. M Shed is housed in the landmark 1950s transit sheds at Prince’s Wharf. The building, which gives the museum its name, has been sympathetically restored, with the aim of preserving its historic character, while also transforming it into a 21st century museum.

The new museum includes three permanent galleries ‘Bristol Places’, ‘Bristol People’ and ‘Bristol Life’ a temporary exhibition space, a new glazed rooftop extension with spectacular panoramic views across the harbour, workshops, a functioning train shed, a learning suite, café, book and gift shop. Entrance to the museum is free. See mshed.org for details and events.

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