#AllStoriesAreImportant

We are living through an unprecedented period in our history with the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020. Coronavirus has had an impact on how we work and interact with each other as well as how we live and die. Archives and the stories captured and preserved within them have a central role in recording these exceptional times.

Our mission at the AIU RACE Centre is to make Global Majority history, heritage and culture more visible. Historical accounts from Global Majority communities using their own words are not equally represented in the public record, and are at risk of loss. We therefore work to collect these stories, documents, records and materials.

What is COVID-19 Collecting?

The COVID-19 pandemic is having a disproportionate impact on Global Majority communities. To ensure this is captured for future researchers, educators and commentators and that our collective national history represents all our communities, we have launched a campaign to collect stories from Greater Manchester’s Global Majority communities. 

We won’t shy away from the difficult and uncomfortable stories the pandemic has exposed. We aim to collect records, stories and articles that demonstrate how racism – structural, institutional and interpersonal – still exists today but is being erased by our national story being largely told by the privileged few. We are also taking an intersectional approach, seeking to collect the stories of everyone within our BGlobal Majority communities.

Until now we have been collecting by email, but we will be having a Drop-off Day on Thursday 23rd September, 12:30 to 5pm.  This will be at the AIU RACE Centre Library on the Lower Ground Floor of Manchester Central Library. There is a lift from the ground floor entrance. With your permission, we will take digital copies or scans. No need to book, just turn up.  For everyone’s safety, please do not attend if you have covid-19 symptoms. We encourage you to do the following:

– wear masks unless you’re exempt
– socially distance wherever possible
– use the hand sanitiser we will provide
– take a lateral flow test before you visit us

You can still send your donations electronically. See below for how to do that

What to Donate?

Donations can be attached to an email with your full name, contact details (email address, phone number) and some contextual information – who created the item? Why, and why is it important to you? Where and when was it made or found?

How to Donate?

Please make a digital copy of whatever it is you would like to donate – this can be done by scanning documents or artwork, photographing objects, or recording sound or visuals. Please see our preferred file formats below (although we will accept others).

How to Send?

Please email submissions to [email protected]. You can also email us (or get in touch via social media @aiucentre) for more information about the process or if you have any questions.

If you are interested in donating something, but unsure if it's relevant, please submit an inquiry below.

Error: Contact form not found.