| Description | The Millennibrum Project was a Millennium Commission-funded project to compile a record of the lives of the people of Birmingham from the year 1945 into the Millennium, a dynamic picture of diverse cultures, experience, ambition and achievement. Video records, oral histories, photographs, objects made and used in the City, documents and writing would together allow future generations to gain a unique understanding of life in twenty-first century Birmingham.
A team of project officers with specialist skills co-ordinated the different strands of the project. These strands were:
Birmingham Objects of Desire - Made and Used in Birmingham. This strand sourced everyday items to represent Birmingham life past and present. The objects included Chad Valley toys, fashion items, kitchen utensils and items that represent the city's cultural diversity. These items may be seen at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.
Millennibrum Publications - Publications relating to the history of the City, the work of the project were published. Additionally Creative Writing iniatives published poetry and prose focusing on life in the City. A book focusing on the history of 20th century Birmingham is a forthcoming publication.
Video Shorts - 1,000 digital videos ranging between 5 - 10 minutes were filmed in different locations across Birmingham. They feature a wide cross section of people of different ages, ethnic backgrounds and occupations and show ordinary people talking about their lives, concerns and their hopes for the future.
Birmingham Speaks - 150 Oral histories recollecting everyday life and experiences of people from all ages and backgrounds across the City were recorded, focusing particularly on those whose lives may go unrecorded.
Photography Competition - Monthly photography competitions were run that were open to all ages and levels of ability, with each month featuring a different theme.
Photographs of the city - Photographic collections dating from 1945 to the present day were acquired. These include Tom Merilion - Concrete Dreams; Gus Gullachsen - Senior citizens; Nick Hedges - Conurbations. These accessions have been given collection references. A list is included in the annexe.
Millennium Profiles - An initiative to encourage organisations that might not ordinarily be included in the Birmingham City Archives collections. The profiles include historical accounts and single item deposits to show the range of organisations in the City.
Record of Events - Digital video films of various events that were staged in the City during the year 2000. These include Chinese New Year celebrations, Crufts, comedy nights at the MAC, and Disability Fairs. |
| AdminHistory | To celebrate the millennium 1998 - 1999 the BBC mounted the biggst project to gather oral histories in Europe. They appointed 40 producers. Helen was tasked with recoridng 100 - 150 recordings of memory of the 20th century. The British Library received 6000. 16 half hour progammes. Helen's programmes went on Radio WM. Helen won the Commision for Race Equalities. BCC celebrated 2000 - 2001. UCE applied for the funding because BCC had just received funding for the Archives of Soho. The library and Museum had copies.
SAMPAD - |