iMuseum: Intelligent, the interactive virtual museum for conserving and celebrating the history of Leicester’s multicultural population.
PhD project abstract
My doctoral thesis investigates part of Leicester's historical legacy based on the migration and settlement of many ethnic minorities, mainly the South Asian, Afro-Caribbean and African communities. My interest began when I became a student at the University in 2013. For many years ethnic minorities have been migrating to the city in the past decades due to various reasons, including seeking refuge from political wrath. Similarly, today migrants from Ukraine are having to leave their homes. Furthermore, among those hit hardest during the pandemic was Leicester's multi-ethnic population. The research will evaluate the stories of citizens and historical narratives associated with community spaces such as museums so that resilience and trauma have emerged among the different community groups and ultimately provide insight into how spaces and places may be developed. Museums have the potential to promote mutual respect between ethically and socially diverse parts of society. This will help create an innovative approach, as well as identify the disparities within museum approaches to connect with communities and interpret ethnic minorities' stories. So that migration stories and cultural artefacts (objects) can be preserved for future generations. The thesis will explore how migration stories and cultural artefacts (objects) can be preserved for future generations. This sample will also build a framework that influences participatory methods to codesign social interventions, arts participation and partnership development, digital media and wellbeing for future projects.