Jatinder Kailey, Community Partnership Producer and Zakira Begum, Interpretation Officer, Historic Royal Palaces
This case study session will focus on the methods and practice used to create a trauma-informed exhibition that centred the South Asian community voice and created a new and unique experience with a multi-layered interpretive approach which has appealed to a new audience.
Speakers: Jatinder Kailey, Community Partnership Producer, Zakira Begum, Interpretation Officer, Historic Royal Palaces and Rav Singh, Community Curator
In 2021 Historic Royal Palaces (HRP) uncovered new stories about Indian Army encampments at Hampton Court Palace. HRP approached a Little History of the Sikhs to advise on silhouettes of Indian soldiers and a graphic panel to accompany a remembrance installation. The installation inspired international media coverage and interest from visitors who were both fascinated and moved by the display, many of whom knew little about the Indian Army and nothing about its links with the palace. This forgotten history is now part of a brand new, radical community-led exhibition.
The Indian Army at the Palace exhibition stands out for the remarkable journey it represents. It’s a testament to the power of nurturing relationships and embracing new possibilities. This exhibition was never in HRP’s forward plans. Instead, it has evolved organically through years of fostering community collaboration, and the combined HRP/community team realising there was so much more to be done with the story. What was meant to be a 1-room, 6-month exhibition turned into a 2-room, year-long exhibition with blog posts, 2 podcast episodes, social media films, a new permanent panel in the gardens and hosting Project Dastaan’s Child of Empire virtual reality experience.
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