GET INVOLVED
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GET INVOLVED —
TELL US YOUR STORIES
Hello! You’ve come to the page dedicated to capturing your stories as part of the Going Back Brockens project which explores themes surrounding the 1984 miners strike and its legacy in County Durham 40 years on.
We started in Horden, but now we’re searching for stories from right across County Durham - get involved!
Contribute your stories
Mining heritage shaped this area for generations, but years on, these villages and towns have new stories.
Where will the story go from here? Share what this place means to you and it will be included in a new community archive.
Leave your stories below…
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
If you live in County Durham (or used to) you can contribute your stories of your place for the community archive in the the following ways:
ONLINE (START BELOW)
Let’s go! Quick and easy. Scroll down to follow the prompts and submit your contributions through this webpage. You can write in the box below, write text, upload photos, videos or other media, or leave a voice message on a private project WhatsApp chat.
USE A PRINTED PROMPT PACK
We have prompt packs available for groups featuring worksheets and activities to help you tell your stories. Request one here and we’ll do our best to get it to you (whilst stocks last), or download the files and print them yourself.
FEELING CREATIVE?
Are you an artist, creative group or teacher interested in a creative response?
TELL YOUR STORY
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TELL YOUR STORY —
We want you to be open, honest and let your mind remind you of things as you start writing, talking or uploading photos, documents, videos and other media.
Big things, little things, momentous things, throw away things… all true memories are equal.
Need a few prompts to help help get you going? Try these:
Take a look around your place (or visualise it in your mind)…
Does it remind you of the past?
Does it say something about the present?
Or is it about hope for the future?
WRITE
UPLOAD MEDIA FROM YOUR DEVICE
Upload photos, videos or other media from your device to share your story for the community archive.
By sharing your response(s) you give permission for it to be included in our community archive and related projects. If you would like your response to be anonymous please add the word ‘anonymous’ to your message.
RECORD YOUR VOICE
To record your voice, join this private project WhatsApp 1-2-1 conversation.
Press and hold the microphone symbol button next to the text field
Start speaking
Remove your finger from the microphone to automatically send the message
You can leave as many messages as you like.
If your finger slips off the microphone symbol button, don’t worry, just press and hold again and continue from where you left off.
Scan this with your phone camera
By sharing your response(s) you give permission for it to be included in our community archive and related projects. If you would like your response to be anonymous please add the word ‘anonymous’ to your message.
FEELING MORE CREATIVE?
For artists, groups, collectives and teachers that are feeling more creative.
Narbi Price tells stories of place through his paintings, Mark Hudson tells stories of place through his writing and recorded interviews.
Are you inspired by the work of Narbi and Mark and would like to try your hand at something more creative for your contribution to the archive?
We have put together some extended prompts, resources and tips from the artists to get you going.
*Some works may also be selected to be showcased at a celebration event alongside the main exhibition!
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TIPS FROM THE ARTISTS
PROMPTS FOR CREATIVES
CONSIDER THESE PROMPTS TO GET YOUR IDEAS FLOWING…
Look at Narbi’s paintings
Does the location look familiar?
Notice there aren’t any people in it?
You can see more examples of Narbi’s work on the project page here
Prompt 1: Specific yet generic spaces
Think about a place in your hometown that is specific to you but could feel familiar to others - like a park, somewhere you go with friends, or a local shop. Maybe something happened here, the event could be big or small. It could be personal to you or a community event.
Create an artwork that focuses on the location itself, avoiding people or personal objects. How does this space tell a story or hold meaning without showing who uses it? How can your artwork allow viewers to project their own experiences onto it?
Prompt 2: Time encoded in place
Visit a location in your hometown that feels layered with history - this could be an old building, a park, or even a quiet alley.
Make a piece of art that reflects how this place has changed over time or how it remains the same. Use texture, colour, or details to show how the past, present, and future might overlap in this spot.
You can also download these prompts on a worksheet and print them out.
Wait, there’s more…
HOST YOUR OWN EXHIBITION
IN THIS PLACE
We invite you to share your stories in person by hosting your own community exhibition or creative activities at a local meeting place. These exhibitions will all be named ‘In This Place’ and can pop-up anywhere across the county, becoming an official part of the Going Back Brockens project and its series of events.
Using the artwork prompts above (and/or downloading the worksheet) as starting points, gather and display your images, writing, and any other creative responses you may have produced.
Also downloadable is the exhibition poster which you can use, just print it, add the date, time and location of your exhibition and display at your event.
For more info or to tell the project team about your exhibition so we can spread the word, email hello@building-culture.org
