Life Stories is a free one-day community event exploring the value and popularity of stories about people’s life experiences and their impact on individuals, communities and society.
Led by Cardiff University’s School of History, Archaeology and Religion and in partnership with St Fagans National History Museum and The Glamorgan Archive, Life Stories presents a mixed programme of fun interactive workshops and talks in which lecturers, heritage professionals and archivists examine the ways in which life stories are researched, presented and received.
Themes for the day include:
Life Stories: biography & characters in historical fiction
My Story: family history, local history & autobiography
Our Story: community stories, oral history
Pet stories: animals & people, pets in our lives
Afterlife Stories: past lives, contact with the dead
Telling Stories: digital story telling, heritage stories and medical histories
Dr David Wyatt who co-ordinates the School’s community engagement initiatives said: “Life stories can allow us to experience the trials, tribulations and triumphs of other human beings, to understand and empathise with other perspectives, view points and beliefs. They are important routes for personal reflection and development. They also have great significance for community identities and social harmony. As such they clearly provide important avenues for historical research and understanding and presenting the past.
“This event seeks to showcase School’s research on life stories to a wide audience, building bridges with local communities, involving people in our projects and providing support to enable individuals to research and present their own life stories and histories. St Fagan’s is an amazing social history venue making it an ideal location for holding an event like this. We very much are looking forward to welcoming any one who is interested to this free fun day of activities.”
Life Stories is one of a number of events taking place to celebrate the launch of the newly merged School of History, Archaeology and Religion at Cardiff University. It takes place on Saturday 20th November 2010, 10.30-4.30pm at St Fagans National History Museum, Cardiff, CF5 6XB.
For further details about the event or to reserve a place please contact Laura Henderson on 029 2087 6169 or email: [email protected]