The research project according to Dr Gui Pozzer ill investigate how current uses and levels of engagement impact on memory making, and well-being in contexts of deindustrialisation.
Gui's presentation explains the rationale behind the project which includes lack of diversity in historical representation, idealised and homogenised representation of the past, perpetuation of dominant narratives and low levels of community participation on decision making and engagement with heritage .
The presentation, De-Industrial Heritage, is part of DEPOT Roundtable series.
The presentation is titled "Words in Ruins: Sensorial, Affective, and Creative Approaches to the Ruins of Industry”. It proposes a reinterpretation of industrial ruins, moving beyond their aesthetic value, often negative social perception, and static role in the urban landscape.
The work highlights the potential of industrial ruins to become catalysts for individual and collective transformations. Drawing on the work "Palavras em Ruínas" [Words in Ruins] and the research project "Crafting the Past", experimentation in ruined industrial spaces will be explored to discuss the integration of sensory, emotional, and creative perspectives into research practices and approaches to the industrial past and history.
The Politics of Belonging: Creativity, Memory, and Heritage to Reimagine Post-Industrial Legacies is the title of the presentation which explores the powerful intersection of community-based, arts-based research, memory, and heritage in post-industrial contexts. It argues that traditional approaches to heritage preservation often overlook the lived experiences and emotional connections of communities to their industrial past.
It draws on on research projects like "Crafting the Past" and "Beyond Rust", to demonstrate how arts-based practices and community engagement can be harnessed to: empower communities, navigate the "Politics of Belonging" and transform industrial landscapes.