Coleraine Museum recently hosted an exhibition, entitled “A World of Stories,” with the support of Causeway Coast & Glens Council through the District Council Good Relations Programme (DCGRP).
The exhibition delved into the migration history of Causeway Coast and Glens from the 20th to the 21st Centuries. It intertwined historical records and contemporary perspectives to offer insight into the experiences of individuals who resettled in the area from various parts of the world. The aim was to highlight the level of diverse backgrounds within the local community.
DCGRP is a match funded good relations funding programme delivered jointly by The Executive Office (TEO) and District Councils as part of the wider Together: Building a United Community (T:BUC) Strategy. The key aims of the programme are to improve relations between and within district council areas, and to support local solutions to local good relations issues.
The exhibition featured contributions from the Conflict Textiles collection, which had an international focus on themes of conflict and human rights. Alongside the primary exhibit, Global Voices, Local Choices showcased a collaborative project involving National Museums NI, the Northern Ireland Museums Council, the African and Caribbean Support Organisation Northern Ireland, and Causeway Multicultural Forum. This project aimed to infuse diverse cultural perspectives into local and national museums.
The Mayor of the Causeway Coast and Glens, Steven Callaghan, said, “Exhibitions like these celebrate the many cultures that come together to make up our community.”
Councillor Ivor Wallace also expressed his appreciation: “This wonderful exhibition from our Museum Services is a timely reminder of just how diverse our community is. I’d like to thank everyone who was involved for sharing their stories with the project. Whether joyful or sad, everyone’s story is unique and worth telling.”
The museum exhibition was part of a wider project of work undertaken by the Council, which also saw the production of a booklet offering further insights into A World of Stories. The booklet can be accessed here: https://niarchive.org/projectitems/a-world-of-stories-exhibition-coleraine-museum-at-coleraine-town-hall/
If you would like further information about the project, or any of the Good Relations projects currently being delivered by the DCGRP, go here: https://www.executiveoffice-ni.gov.uk/articles/district-councils-good-relations-programme