Over the past few months, HTR has received full funding to begin and conduct a new exhibition project called “Everyday Objects Transformed By the Conflict”.  Funding for this new initiative by HTR was contributed by a variety of sources, including the Heritage Lottery Fund (£49,900), Awards for All (£10,000), International Coalition for Sites of Conscience (£5,975), Enkalon Foundation (£1,000), Good Relations Council (£1,000) and Bombardier Aerospace (NI) Foundation (£500).

The “Everyday Objects Transformed By the Conflict” project has been initiated by the Living Memorial Museum (LMM) Sub Group and builds on the 2008 ‘Audit of Artefacts’ report.  The project is also informed by an SOC funded five day study visit made to Berlin in March 2010 by members of the LMM Sub Group.

The project aims to pilot a way of staging multiple-perspective events and exhibitions which can assist communities in building better understanding of the conflict and the past.  It also seeks, through educational and interactive exhibits designed by communities themselves, to build an understanding of different cultures and communities.

As mentioned above, the project has its origins in HTR’s 2008 ‘Audit of Artefacts’ report, an audit of the material culture of the conflict in and about Northern Ireland, and includes a wide range of artefacts, collections (from small private collectors to large public museums), and community backgrounds.  Also available at HTR’s website is the online database of artefacts.

HTR is currently liasing with those collectors invited to be involved in the project. The exhibition of “Everyday Objects Transformed by the Conflict” will be launched in Autumn 2011, with up to four exhibitions taking place in a range of locations across Northern Ireland to take place over the course of the following months.

As part of this project, HTR seeks to support organised visits to the exhibition as well as workshops for schools, colleges, community groups and other interested parties, providing background information and topics for consideration for those who attend.

More details to follow as they become available or contact projectcoord@healingthroughremembering.org for more information.