Young People's Collective

The Young People's Collective filming at Kingston Museum

This page has been written by our Young People's Collective.

We are currently in the process of re-imagining the Young People's collective. However, if you wish to find out more about the heritage Service and Volunteer opportunities or any current projects that you could get involved with please email kingston.museum@kingston.gov.uk 

Kingston Museum’s Young People’s Collective is a space for young people (aged between 16 and 25) who are passionate about local heritage and sharing it creatively. We lead and develop our own projects related to the heritage of Kingston and surrounding areas, working in partnership with the Heritage Service and its staff.

One of our core aims is to support people aspiring to arts and heritage careers, by making connections and gaining relevant skills that will support them in the future. For example, our members have gained experience curating exhibitions, running local history tours, and in editing and videography, to name a few. Equally, we enjoy sharing our skills and experience with other members of the Collective.

Past projects

Currently in its fifth year, the Collective has produced a variety of projects inspired by the interests of members. These have included:

We launched a new history podcast Culture In Kingston. Bring history into your living room, and let each episode take you on a virtual tour of a piece of Kingston’s heritage. Written, created and recorded by Kingston Museum's Young People's Collective

Short Films

Members of our Young People's Collective researched, written, recorded, and edited short films exploring different aspects of Kingston’s history. These will be showcased at Kingston’s Heritage Festival in September 2020.

‘Ink in Kingston’ Exhibition at Kingston Museum

Conceived, developed and facilitated by members, this exhibition celebrated the tattoo culture of the borough. Featuring historical information alongside contemporary photographic and illustrative responses to tattoos, the exhibition displayed the history of the art and explored modern practices. Several events ran alongside the exhibition, including a drawing session featuring tattooed models.

‘Sensory Kingston’ Exhibition at Stanley Picker Gallery

Members created sound recordings of contemporary spaces in Kingston to illustrate the history and legacy of familiar environments in an alternative medium. Their work was displayed alongside that of sound artist Yuri Suzuki in a pop-up event at the Stanley Picker Gallery in March 2018.

Creepy Kingston walk

Taking place at Halloween, we researched spooky stories related to the Kingston area. This informed a guided night walk around Kingston, telling the stories in the areas in which they happened. There were tales of hauntings, hangings, highwaymen and even a witch, who was put to death in the medieval marketplace.