Beneath the surface

A key challenge for minority autochthonous groups in maintaining identity and community is the preservation and revitalisation of their intangible cultural heritage (ICH).

Historically (and by definition) lacking infrastructure and resource, minoritized groups often rely on informal, ad hoc structures and processes to maintain a sustainable critical mass of manifestations of ICH, whether language, festival, dance, music, costume etc, and their encapsulation in audio-visual artefacts. Often, it is individuals and gatekeepers within the community, working within macro economic, political, and legal contexts, where continuation of the ICH may lie.

This project is designed to dovetail with the current Re:voice project, which amongst other things is undertaking research to identify, collect, and share previously lost or disparate audio-visual artefacts relating to the project's case studies of Cornish festivals (Obby Oss, Mazey Day, and Redruth International Pasty and Mining Festival). This doctoral project should engage and build on this work to focus on the locations, identities, and motivations of the individuals or organisations who hold the 'lost' material before it is 'found', with the purpose of better understanding how marginalised ICH can play an active and vital part in building and forming identity.

It might address questions such as:

• Who generally possesses the artefacts?
• What is their motivation or stake in relation to the ICH and the community?
• What are the conditions of their ownership?
• How accessible are they to the communities of their origin?
• Can this information be mapped, and (how) can it be used to inform minoritized communities in Cornwall, Europe, and globally to better find, capture, preserve, and share their ICH?

Study design should build on the findings of the Re:voice project, and methodology might include qualitative data collection via 1:1 interviews with individuals in Cornwall relating to the case study festivals (some of whom will already have been identified), cultural mapping, analysis of archives more broadly, and could potentially include comparisons with other marginalised identities in the UK or beyond.

Project brief & project proposal enquiries

To discuss this project brief, ideas or project proposal responding to this brief, please contact: Dr Laura Hodsdon.

E: Laura.Hodsdon@falmouth.ac.uk

Application enquiries

For all other application related enquires please contact the Research & Development team.

E: research@falmouth.ac.uk

T: 01326 255831