Armagh Robinson Library is one of six museums in Northern Ireland which has been taking part in the project Global Voices, Local Choices. The project is bringing diverse cultures and perspectives into Northern Ireland’s local and national museums.
Global Voices, Local Choices is organised in partnership with National Museums Northern Ireland, the African and Caribbean Support Organisation Northern Ireland (ACSONI) and Northern Ireland Museums Council (NIMC), and funded by Esme Fairbairn.
Image credits: Ian Maginess
The group working with Armagh Robinson Library is made up of members of local Ukrainian families. They have faithfully attended each of the six sessions, one of which included a visit to the Ulster Museum. They looked at objects from the World Cultures collection at the Ulster Museum and were invited to choose one for their own project back in Armagh Robinson Library.
Working with the group are Agrippa Njanina, Community Engagement Officer with National Museums NI and poet and dramatist, Maria McManus. The object selected by the group is a comb from the Solomon Islands. Its decoration has made strong links with Ukrainian culture including design and use of colour.
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Speaking ahead of the final session, Agrippa Njanina said,
I am deeply moved by the commitment and resolve shown by the Ukrainian families these past few weeks. This comb from far off Oceania has inspired these families to gratefully express their pride in their culture and heritage through meaningful and creative letter writing.
It is inspirational to see what the Global Voices Local Choices project is going to achieve across museums in Northern Ireland. While we are coming to the last of six workshops for this group, I am relieved that both the families and Armagh Robinson Library have built a strong relationship that will last beyond co-curating the upcoming display of the comb and the letters. This initiative goes beyond tokenism and creates an inclusive environment that fosters dialogue, challenges biases, and celebrates the stories of all communities represented in Northern Ireland.
Maria McManus, who is the creative facilitator for this part of the project, has worked on projects before with Armagh Robinson Library. Speaking about the Global Voices, Local Choices project, Maria said,
Objects bring and stimulate stories. From stories we come to know ourselves and each other. From such fine detail as the woven handle on this comb from the Solomon Islands, we have learned so much about Ukraine as well; the threads that bind people’s lives, across generations, and across time, and across borders. This has been such a rich project, and time spent well.
The other participating museums are Ulster Museum, Carrickfergus Museum, Tower Museum, Fermanagh County Museum and Causeway Coast and Glen Museum Service.
Armagh Robinson Library’s team is grateful to the funders, facilitators and the Ukrainian families, all of whom have made this project possible. There will be an exhibition to display the completed work in the Library later in the summer, so watch this space!
