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Loose Ends: exploring radical family history through art

Date

Red fabric with emblems of people stitched onto it, connected by ribbon in different ways. Text reads 'Ellies family tree;

How could family histories be shared and understood beyond the limits of traditional, linear family trees?

Following Professor Laura King’s research into the meanings of family history, she teamed up with artist Ellie Harrison and her company Polite Rebellion to develop more inclusive ways of representing family relationships, including chosen families as well as biological ties.

Read the case study

Impact

  • Health impact: enhance capacity for multilingual, patient-centred advocacy in healthcare and public engagement contexts
  • Interdisciplinary research: hosted a collaborative exhibition at Leeds’ Thackray Museum of Medicine, which highlighted patient stories.

Key information

  • Major funders: Impact Acceleration Account, Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)
  • Partners and collaborators: Compass Festival, Polite Rebellion
  • Disciplines: history, textiles
  • Investigators: Professor Laura King, Ellie Harrison.

This project was sponsored by the UKRI Impact Acceleration Account.

Keywords: family tree, genealogy, radical family history, creativity, arts-based research, exhibition, participatory methods, textile