I have been lucky to work with some incredible collections including the National Centre for Children’s Books Seven Stories, Museums Northumberland and Newcastle libraries. I feel very lucky to have produced work exploring the arts, science, history and literary heritage of the North East. So when I saw The Common Room Late Shows Commission, I knew I wanted to learn more.
The Common Room holds one of the largest, most comprehensive, public collections on mining engineering in the world. Prof Margaret Jacob, one of the world’s pre-eminent scholars of the Industrial Revolution, describes the collection as “One of the two most important collections in the world for the study of the birth of the Industrial Revolution”.
Working with The Common Room team to co-create the ‘Inspiring Pioneers’ exhibition has been really interesting. Rather than focusing on the people and stories in their archive, we have instead focused on those stories that are missing. Building on their Inspiring Pioneers Project, installing blue plaques across the five Tyne & Wear local authorities in recognition of regional women in science, we have identified 12 inspiring pioneers to celebrate through the commission.
Another thing that drew me to this commission is the physical spaces often associated with heritage projects. The Common Room are custodians of Neville Hall, historically the home of the North of England Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineers since 1872. This architectural gem once echoed with the hustle and bustle of mining innovation.
I fell in love with this beautifully restored Grade II listed building the first time I saw it. But I was also fascinated by ideas of how we could incorporate new stories into such an established space without disrupting or damaging what has been there for over 130 years. Using AR is an exciting opportunity to do just that, offering audiences the opportunity to see beyond the surface and learn more about The Common Room’s and the region’s rich history.
-Emma Tominey
