Year | 2022
Location | Sheffield
Clients | Diaspora Multimedia Hub, Israac and the Screen Industries Growth Network (SIGN)
The Screen Industries Growth Network (SIGN) have been collaborating with Live Works on a long-term research project, aiming to understand the barriers underrepresented communities face in the screen industries. As an extension of this research, SIGN commissioned the ‘Screen Rights’ project to run as a Live Project at Sheffield School of Architecture.
The brief was developed by SIGN and Live Works, connecting with a community group by involving Israac Somali Community Association as the client on the project. Israac set up Diaspora Multimedia Hub (DMH) in 2019 with the goal of documenting the untold stories of Sheffield’s migrant communities. By working with DMH, the project gained clearer insight into the importance of making the screen industry in Sheffield a more diverse and accessible space.
Whilst aiming to support the progression of DMH as its own organisation, the project also had a wider reach, considering how Sheffield’s screen industry can be made more transparent to all. But how can this be done?
The brief set out three key outputs for the project: a network, mapping of the industry, and a ‘nomadic device’ which could be transported around the city. To understand how these outputs could benefit DMH and the wider industry and communities, the team engaged throughout the project with potential stakeholders in the local screen industry, as well as community groups.
Through engagement, connections within the industry could be made to form the network, and mapping of skills, facilities, equipment and resources in the local area could be drawn out. This later developed into a directory, giving an overview of all stakeholders within the local film industry, with a straightforward approach so that anyone can find out what opportunities in film and media are available in Sheffield and where.
To further this, a ‘nomadic’ device was built, providing the community with a portable green screen, which also doubles as a dismantable market stall. The aim of this device is to increase DMH’s presence in the city. The ease of assembly and transportability of the device allows it to move around the city for workshops and promotional events. In turn, the device can facilitate increased participation in film and media, and with the support of the network, they are now able to direct individuals on where they could go to develop their interests.
The project will be continued by Live Works following submission of the Live Project.
Instagram: @screenrights_lp
Credits:
Mentor: Catherine Skelcher
Client: Diaspora Multimedia Hub, Israac and the Screen Industries Growth Network (SIGN)
Location: Sheffield
Students: Silvia Mavakala, Theodora N Beckett, Nur Isa, Ivy Jin Yan, Peter S Wright, Connor M Curley, Ellen McCann, Thomas J Rogan, Huini Li, Bilge Sari, Weilu Shen, Yu-Jin Shih, Fan Tong.
