Dynamic Collections
During an audit, Leeds Museums and Galleries found that among its 1.3million strong collection, just under 2,000 items (or 0.15%) related to sport. In a city with such a proud sporting heritage, this wouldn’t do, says project manager Catherine Robins.
“Sport is important to Leeds. We've got big successful teams. There’s Leeds Rhinos rugby team up at Headingley, Leeds United Football Club. There’s also a huge number of community and grassroots sports groups, individuals who are successful in the Olympics and Paralympics. It’s a source of pride for the city.”
Our £210,000 funding – awarded as part of our Dynamic Collections campaign – supported On the Pitch, Off the Pitch: Collecting Sport in Leeds. This community engagement project aimed to increase representation of sport in the city’s collections by:
- commissioning films of sports taking place in public locations, from skateboarders by the canal to table tennis in the park
- collecting physical artefacts from the community that tell stories about sport
- developing public murals and digital art pieces, providing opportunities for local artists to contribute both to the collection and the built environment
A core part of the project was the collection of oral histories – interviewing local people about their experiences and connection to sport at all levels. Visitors to the museum can listen to the recordings, which are part of a new display and will also be permanently available online.
Catherine says: “There are so many intangible aspects to people’s relationships with sport. You can collect plenty of cricket bats from the 1800s but that, in and of itself, doesn’t carry the emotion and the story with it like an oral history. You’re capturing their emotions through their words. For them, sport is such a source of passion, identity and community.
“That’s why the honesty with which people have approached the project is so exciting – these recordings will be of interest to a variety of different projects, researchers and local people in the future.”
Uncovering sporting heritage through conversation
Justine Reilly is the co-founder of the Sporting Heritage Network. She works with museums like Leeds and organisations across the UK to promote the value of capturing and sharing sporting heritage. Oral histories are an important part of that work and can reveal insight about a community beyond the playing field.
“The power of what can emerge from these conversations is remarkable,” Justine says. “It might not speak of just sport, but of political change, social change, economic change. For a village, the local sports club is everything. It’s where they hold christenings, funerals. So, even if you’re not interested in the match itself, you’ll have a connection to that shared heritage.”
Oral histories focused on sport can also be an effective tool for building connections across social, racial and religious boundaries. However, we mustn’t forget that barriers persist.
Justine says: “Heritage is still seen as predominantly white, non-disabled, male and elitist – and we feel that in sporting history. So, with oral histories, when we're engaging new audiences, particularly those who have been excluded and ignored, there can still, understandably, be distrust. It’s important that the sector overcome that. What does that look like? Listening is a good place to start.”
How to design an oral history project about sport
Sporting Heritage Network has created online webinars to explore the process of planning an oral history project. The network’s website also features toolkits exploring audience engagement and collections management.
We asked Justine: what’s important to consider when developing an oral history project around sporting heritage?
- Start by understanding your audience. What will they be interested in and how will you share the content with them effectively?
- Seek out hidden histories and provide space for under-served communities. What are the stories that haven’t been told before? How can you build relationships with local teams and clubs?
- Remember the mechanics of the process. Do you have the equipment you need (no bells and whistles, a smartphone is enough) and a quiet space where you can record comfortably?
- Prioritise the feelings of your interviewees. If you’re asking about difficult or complex memories, how can you be considerate of their comfort and happiness?
To find out more about the Leeds Museums and Galleries project, visit the website. If you’d like to learn more about oral histories, explore our best practice guidance.
