Press Release
Francesca Murialdo, Director of Programmes in Interior Architecture and Design at Middlesex University is among the first to receive new British Academy funding to engage the public an innovative public engagement research project focusing on Kilburn Museum Lab, in partnership with Kilburn Camden Library and PAPRIKA Collective.
The possible futures with PAPRIKA Collective & more…
Kilburn, with its rich history and cultural diversity, presents a unique opportunity to capture and celebrate the diverse voices of the collective heritage. As a not-for-profit grassroots arts organisation based in Kilburn, we are thrilled about this partnership that is a part of this journey to develop Kilburn Museum Lab, where the connections, creativity and ideas will be flourishing. We are already excited about working in collaboration with students, educators and researchers from the programmes in Interior Architecture and Design at Middlesex University and Camden Council’s Kilburn Library to develop innovative and creative workshops and public programmes that link research, the creative arts and local communities.
The Award
Francesca Murialdo is one of fourteen researchers across thirteen projects to receive funding via the British Academy’s new SHAPE Involve and Engage Awards, a pilot scheme designed to support creative methods of engaging the public in cutting-edge SHAPE research (social sciences, humanities and the arts for people and the economy). Each award is in partnership with a regional cultural organisation, including galleries, libraries, archives and museums. The scheme was subject to high demand, the British Academy said [link to British Academy news story], receiving many more applications than anticipated.
Project Lead & Cultural Partners
Project Lead: Dr. Francesca Murialdo, Director of Programmes in Interior Architecture and Design at Middlesex University
Quote from lead researcher, Dr. Francesca Murialdo
"We are delighted to announce our successful funding for the development of Kilburn Museum Lab. This project marks a significant step in our long-term plan to create a cultural hub committed to positively impacting Kilburn’s social fabric by implementing innovative programs and initiatives that encourage active community participation. Through innovative programs and initiatives designed to foster active community engagement, Kilburn Museum Lab will play a pivotal role. This project extends and builds upon our recent collaborations with the Kilburn Camden Library and Paprika Collective, as well as our partnerships with local governments, organizations, and individuals."
Cultural Partner: Camden Council's Libraries (Kilburn Library & Camden Local Stories & Archive Centre)
Fiona Tarn, Head of Libraries for Camden Council, said:
"Camden Libraries are delighted to be working with Middlesex University and Paprika Collective on this exciting project funded by the British Academy SHAPE fund. Camden Libraries are developing a local What If approach to their libraries encouraging the community to engage and participate to help shape their local library and this project will be a creative way of supporting that ambition in Kilburn."
Cultural Partner: PAPRIKA Collective, a not-for-profit grassroots arts organisation based in Kilburn, London.
Dr. Ada Xiaoyu Hao, Curator of PAPRIKA Collective:
"We have been working closely with the local communities in Kilburn to discover a language to speak about where they are and what other possible futures are available to them. This new partnership allows us to question: What is a museum? What can be considered as archive? We are thrilled to collectively imagine, archive and create the future archival presence of Kilburn and its people."