Thread by @RedhillsDurham

Our #archivingagainsterasure workshop has started with a welcome from @vsdonovan thanks to @ahrcpress @univofstandrews for supporting #donbasinfocus

We will be twitting updates throughout the day if you were unable to join us in Spennymoor Town Hall. Within this thread or on #donbasinfocus

@vsdonovan explains ambitions for workshop today. Exploring questions such as:
1. What heritage is deemed to be valuable and worthy of preservation and by whom? #donbasinfocus

2. What is the role of local communities and activists in establishing the value of industrial heritage? #donbasinfocus

3. Can community heritagization and cultural response to deindustrialization resist erasure and contribute to more just post-industrial transitions? #donbasinfocus

@nickmalyan introduces delegates to the vast Durham Coalfield and coal mining industry in County Durham ahead of visit to Durham Mining Museum #donbasinfocus

We're back from the Durham Mining Museum @nickmalyan is talks the group through the journey of the DMA in industry to Redhills' Charity to protect the miners hall, which he classes as a museum of decision making, of the people and how we cared for each other 100 years ago.

@nickmalyan shows the group a lump of coal. When did it become something we no longer burn and when did it become a historic object? Young people who have visited Redhills have asked if they eat or if they spend coal #donbasinfocus

Incredibly poignant exhibits around the room #donbasinfocus @ahrcpress @univofstandrews

We now hear from Bryan Dixon from Amber Collective @SideGallery #saveside #donbasinfocus

Bryan showcases the iconic documentary Launch (1974) and how they worked with young children to create responses to a subject matter unfamiliar to them - mining. #saveside #donbasinfocus

Easington legends Myrtle and Heather discussing Easington disaster @

Bryan talks about the continual importance of documenting our heritage. The stories of the house, the families, the woman - not just the monuments of industry attempt to give a fuller picture of our living history. #saveside #donbasinfocus

We now hear from Anhelina Rozhkova, director of Pokrovsk Local History Museum on how they have engaged their community archives and their creative responses to deindustrialization #donbasinfocus

Local people were encouraged to bring their own objects to museum for digitisation. Factories used as creative hubs. Mines in Pokrovsk still open up to 2022. Thanks to museum the ghost of the mine and it's host was recognised as an element of intangible regional heritage.

Anhelina credits two photographers integral to preserving heritage through photography in the region. Marko Zalizniak and Mykola Bilokon. Examples of their work are available on tables at workshop #donbasinfocus @ahrcpress @univofstandrews

Brochures are available - URL will be posted at the end of the day in this twitter thread.

Next up we have Robin Chesters who is the Director of the Museum of the Scottish Oil Shale Industry who has joined us from West Lothian today. #donbasinfocus

There has been no Shail Oil industry in Scotland since 1962 - almost 30 years before last coal mine closed in Durham. So lots we can learn from how they preserve their heritage - their core audience is over the age of 65. Job to be done to engage young people #donbasinfocus

Robin discusses their Shail Trail which links industrial heritage together to engage communities in a different way - active learning not in a classroom. Participants invited to engage with heritage objects on tables.

Lunchtime and we have videos sent from Oleksandr Hore about the work of Mariupol Local History Museum. #donbasinfocus

We're delighted to welcome Connor Clements and the Dorman Long VR project for discussion as part of our digital showcase @ahrcpress @univofstandrews #donbasinfocus twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

The brilliant volunteers in the Durham Mining Museum have just presented me with my very own copy of this 🥰

Lunchtime means an opportunity to explore the Town Hall Norman Cornish Room 🥰

Poignant video sent to the workshop today from Dmytro Bilko - Former Director of Donetsk Local History Museum. From his clothing you can see why he isn't with us in person for the workshop today. #donbasinfocus

Some examples of @DurhamGala brochures over the years shown to our Ukrainian friends today #donbasinfocus

Yevheniia Kalugina, Director of Sloviansk Local History Museum talks to us about her experiences of threats to the heritage collections that she manages relating to Salt Mine and railway construction industries. #donbasinfocus

Our final speaker for the day is Connor Clements who discusses the Dorman Long Tower Reimagine: A virtual reality experience which he was involved with as part of Middlesbrough Art Weekender #donbasinfocus #utb #dormanlong

Closing remarks from @vsdonovan and @nickmalyan and opening up questions to the room. So many similarity between the regions discussed today. Historic connections, shared history which we need to preserve #donbasinfocus