Walsall Archive for All blog - Stories in the Garden: Mapping Memories at Caldmore Storytelling Festival
WAFA On The Road
Part 2
One of the most rewarding parts of the Walsall Archive for All (WAFA) project has been meeting people where they already gather, creating opportunities for conversations about Walsall's past, present and future in welcoming community spaces.
As part of this ongoing work, the WAFA team joined this year's Caldmore Storytelling Festival on 20 June at Caldmore Community Garden.
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Throughout the festival, which also saw an incredible line-up of storytellers from across the world, the chance to make a story stick with Kimberley Creates and a photo booth, visitors were invited to stop by our stall, discover more about the project and explore how their own memories and experiences can become part of Walsall's evolving story.
Through our Map Your Walsall activity, people of all ages marked places that hold special meaning to them, whether it was the route they walk to school, a favourite park, a local landmark or somewhere connected to family memories.
Alongside this, our Story Drop activity encouraged visitors to share memories, reflections and personal stories inspired by the places they know best.
Over the course of the festival, we spoke with more than 80 visitors, introducing them to the WAFA project and the remarkable Jack Haddock Collection, while delivering hands-on workshop activities with 35 participants. These conversations offered valuable insights into the places, traditions and experiences that matter most to local people, while also introducing many visitors to Walsall Archives for the first time.
Why it matters
As we continue the project, every map, memory and conversation helps us build a more inclusive archive, one that reflects not only Walsall's history, but also the people who are creating its future.
Events such as the Caldmore Storytelling Festival help us reach people in the communities where they live, creating opportunities to share stories, capture memories and encourage new audiences to engage with Walsall's heritage. This supports WAFA's aim of ensuring that local archives reflect the experiences, voices and histories of people across the borough.
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Partner spotlight
We would like to thank Caldmore Community Garden for hosting this fantastic event and for creating a welcoming space where stories, memories and community connections can be shared.
To learn more about Caldmore Community Garden, visit their website: Caldmore Community Garden (opens in new tab) or follow them on Facebook: Caldmore Community Garden Facebook (opens in new tab).
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