FALKIRK (Bainsford/Langlees)

 Aims

·      To creatively connect communities to their local culture: intangible cultural heritage, history, literature

·      To stimulate participation and bring together local activists and organisations

·      To record aspects of local culture - songs, stories, dances, traditions

·      To affirm the work of local practitioners

Fieldworkers

Steve Byrne, Amy Lord

Partners and Contact Organisations

Corra Foundation, Dawson Sports Development Association, Bethankit Lunch Club, Bainsford Parish Church, Dawson Centre, Langlees Primary School, Forth Environment Link, Falkirk Council, CVS Falkirk, Bainsford Community Hall Group, Coo Park United AFC, Carron Connections

Action Research

Weekly coffee sessions with different discussion topics and story-gathering. Singing workshops. ABC of Local Distinctiveness, mapping using National Library of Scotland maps (collecting local place-names not on maps), Shoebox Memories. Walking Ethnography, photography, collecting and archiving local materials with local historian Ken Shirra, oral history interviews (individual and group), Place Standard. Interaction with local processes such as the Community Action Plan, hall development plans. Brainstorming ‘Ideas Day’. Community Growing (community garden, school garden, planters)

Productions

Tattie Day – celebrating potatoes harvested from community beds

Doon the Loan: oral history and photography exhibition of iconic local places, with Camelon Pipe Band and other musical contributions. The event took its name from a popular local walking route.

Bibliography of local books, websites and resources