‘Unsettling Stories’ x Empire and the Making of Modern Derby

Cath Feely, Jo Ray, and students from the University of Derby undertook a collaborative project to 're-enact' (in a critical mode) the artistic contribution of art school students to the empire exhibition of 1924.

Responding to findings from Cath’s historical research, and methodologies from Jo Ray's practive led research, Design Masters students from the School of Art at the University of Derby co-created an installation banners along which, along with talks and a participatory workshop, this event explored the politics of representing Derby’s industrial history one hundred years on, and reflected on the role of makerly processes on critical engagement with our collective past and present.

Supported by the University of Derby Cultural and Creative Industries Theme, the University of Derby College of Arts, Humanities and Education Research Fund, CivicLAB at the University of Derby, and the Social History Society.

Dr Cath Feely is a modern British social and cultural historian and Senior Lecturer in History at the University of Derby. Dr Jo Ray is an artist and Senior Lecturer in Design at the University of Derby. Her research brings art-practice led methodologies to a range of contexts relating to people and the diverse ways in which we make sense of our world(s). Over the past two years, Cath and Jo have been collaborating with students taking the MA Design ‘Experiencing the Past’ Lab to co-produce work which plays with and unsettles ideas of history, heritage and identity.