Living Museums is dedicated to history and heritage projects - created with and for young people
LIVING HISTORY IN ACTION
PERFORMING HERITAGE IN MUSEUMS
On 9th October 2026, we held a special event at the Black Country Living Museum on 9th October, exploring the power of living history and the use of role play in performing heritage in museums.
Bringing together teachers, museum workers and practitioners, the event drew in particular on Dorothy Heathcote’s contributions to role-work, and to history and heritage education. One highlight was the role-work by young people from Tudor Grange Academy Worcester, who represented cotton workers in the Apprentice House in Quarry Bank Mill in 1836; and children from Woodrow First School, Redditch, who represented needle makers in 1846.
Janine Downes, Head of Public Programmes at BCLM said: "I was very inspired by the young people, and I am now considering how we might incorporate this kind of work in the museum in future."
Presented as part of the Dorothy Heathcote Living History project. Funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. With thanks to National Lottery players.
Our current projects
DOROTHY HEATHCOTE LIVING HISTORY PROJECT
The celebrated drama teacher Dorothy Heathcote undertook a number of history projects in schools, and also projects with heritage sites. Now, the Mantle Network has been awarded a grant by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, to research her work in this field - and to create new local history projects inspired by her work.
“FELLOWSHIP WITH NATURE”
THE ARBORETUM AND GARDENS MOVEMENT
Arboretums, botanical gardens and landscaped parks, were created in England in the 19th and early 20th centuries, as part of an environmental, educational, social and aesthetic movement, to restore the “fellowship with nature.”
We believe that this is an opportune moment to explore the historic roots of the movement, and celebrate its environmental vision. In this project, we are working with 5 groups of young people, aged 9-18, based in schools in different parts of the Midlands.
For more details, click on the link below.
Funded by a grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Big thanks to the lottery players for helping
Previous projects
SPITFIRE OVER THE MIDLANDS
In this project, we looked at the impact of the Spitfire plane on people's lives. We worked with 175 young people across the Midlands.
Funded by a grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund
THE MUSEUM OF LOST STORIES
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The Archway of Tears was the name given to the entrance to the Birmingham Workhouse. Now, it has been demolished. We have created The Museum of Lost Stories, to commemorate the lives of people who lived there.
And the lives of others, whose stories are also in danger of being forgotten...
Funded by Birmingham City Council