Community Research

Since 2021, the SS Great Britain Trust has offered people in Bristol who are underrepresented in the heritage sector the opportunity to use the museum archive to generate creative work.  Originally funded by the AHRC Exchange project, since 2023 the Trust has maintained this work independently.

Participatory research allows community members to explore the Trust’s entire archive collections, with the support of the Heads of Research and Collections, and the Trust’s Communities Officer.  The Community Research programme encourages open and honest investigation and exploration, and empowers people to publish, write, draw and make from original archival material, developing and opening up positive and tangible bonds with new communities and audiences in Bristol.