Your DIG - Working Towards a Model of Participatory Interpretation
Your DIG, York Archaeological Trust’s new Community Engagement Programme, is a series of collaborative exhibitions highlighting a range of community-led initiatives from across York and the wider Yorkshire region. Hosted at “DIG, An Archaeological Adventure” in York, the Your DIG exhibitions are a platform for local people to show off their own adventures in archaeology to visitors. YAT recently worked with participants from Converge (a partnership between York St John University and local mental health service providers) to devise, develop and co-curate a Your DIG exhibition. Together we explored a site archive excavated in 1972 using drama, artwork, music and creative writing to make interpreting archaeological evidence a fun and engaging experience. This paper will explore the participatory interpretation techniques used during this Your DIG project and consider what might be next for the program.
Jen Jackson (Community Engagement Manager)