Every Object Tells a Story – a short history

Every Object Tells a Story was funded from the University of Sheffield’s Knowledge Transfer Opportunities Fund, which aims to turn research into something people can use.

The original project was called ‘Ferham Families’ and was funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council’s Diasporas Migration Identities fund. The project aimed to look at the relationship between objects in the home and the narratives of migration of families of Pakistani heritage. The project involved five families who were able to share their stories and objects with the team. The stories and objects that were collected were displayed in an exhibition in Rotherham Arts Centre in March 2007. The original project team were Kate Pahl, University of Sheffield, Andy Pollard, Sheffield Hallam University and Zahir Rafiq, who worked in partnership with Steve Blackburn, Clifton Park Museum, Di Clegg, Ferham School and Wendy Leak, Rotherham Central Sure Start to deliver the project. Additional funding from Creative Partnerships enabled us to develop a website: HYPERLINK "http://www.ferhamfamilies.com" www.ferhamfamilies.com. This is still online.

Kate Pahl, University of Sheffield, ran the current project called Every Object Tells A Story. The website and materials pack was designed by Zahir Rafiq, and was delivered in partnership with Museums Libraries and Archives (MLA), Yorkshire. Abi Hackett wrote the learning pack and the materials were piloted by Jacqui Lindsay, Sheffield Family Learning, and Parven Akhter, Burngreave Community Learning Campaign. The project continues to be supported by MLA Yorkshire.