About Us
Mapping Nottingham’s Identity is a project that started in summer 2016 when Ana Souto and Daša Spasojevic designed a creative approach to explore Nottingham’s identity. That summer, they worked with the communities in Sneinton, Carrington and West Bridgford, in Nottingham, as well as in Johannesburg where Prof Duncan Higgins and Ana Souto delivered a mapping and drawing workshop at the Outreach Foundation.
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Our approach inspired the basis of the participatory research into identity and community, run in partnership with various people and organisations. The research team, led by Ana, also involves students from Nottingham Trent University who were interested in the topics and contributing their time and skillset to the projects.
Who are we?
Mapping Nottingham’s Identity is a research project based on the collaborative re-imagination of public spaces in Nottingham (UK). Participation lies at the heart of this project; there is no agenda or predetermined outcome. We offer an inclusive and flexible platform to listen, discuss and share different points of view and engagement with Nottingham
Who supports us?
Our practice, facilitated by Nottingham Trent University, is based on mapping, an essential tool to discover and to present visually how people understand and feel about places and their connection with the community. We have used this method in different contexts and with diverse audiences, outside of the traditional university classroom, to encourage a multidisciplinary and multi-layered account of these places.
What is our goal?
Our aim is to promote an exchange whereby each stakeholder has something to learn from each other and rediscovers interesting material to share with others.​The idea of “Heritage” is challenged by the concept of “community heritage” and belonging, trying to assess the connection, or lack of links between these essential ideas
How do we achieve this?
The methodology used, Participatory Action Research (PAR), embraces a number of methods which encourage participation and exchange: exhibitions are at the centre of this approach, organised in public spaces, opened to everyone, facilitated by workshops, promoting creativity and knowledge exchange outside of the conventional educational spaces.
What's next?
This is an on-going project and as a consequence, incomplete: there are no final conclusions, but a reflection on the validity of the process : an exercise to encourage public participation and generous learning exchange from all those involved.​​
Our Story
Mapping Nottingham's Identity started in June 2016, when Daša Spasojevic spent the summer working at Nottingham Trent University. She worked with Ana Souto – who ran a mapping workshop that summer with Prof Duncan Higgins at the Outreach Foundation, Johannesburg, South Africa – and became the Project Manager for the first iteration of Mapping Nottingham's Identity, working closely with community leaders in Sneinton and Carrington.