Carnivals and Costumes – interested in the stories behind them?
Are you a creative young person interested in clothes, costumes, colour and Carnival? Or someone who wants to gain experience in interviewing and exhibition design? ‘Making More Mischief’ is a project by London College of Fashion, UAL in partnership with the Museum of British Folklore. We are looking for volunteers to meet and record the stories of people who make or wear folk costumes in London, whether it’s for carnival events, big nights out or more historic occasions. You will be involved in collecting oral history interviews for a major exhibition. In return you will need to commit to training days and interviewing opportunities. No experience necessary.
This is a fantastic opportunity for young London-based volunteers/students, 18-25 years, to take part in a unique project during January, February and March 2024.
You will be meeting and talking to people who create and wear costumes, and finding out what they do, how they do it and what inspires and motivates them.
You will be trained in the following skills: audio recording, interviewing techniques, exhibition creation, audio selection and presentation.
You will be working with professionals from the worlds of fashion design, exhibition production, heritage and oral history.
The programme will be varied and exciting, but we will expect commitment and full participation.
Our Programme
This will be a mix of online and in-person sessions during Jan, Feb and Mar. The exhibition, Making More Mischief will be launched in early April at LCF's new East Bank campus located at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London.
In order to learn the skills needed to get really stuck into this project, you’ll need to commit to a number of meetings and training sessions on the following dates:
- 4 Jan – 10-12pm online introduction.
- 8 Jan – 10- 4pm in-person (LCF East, Stratford, London) – meet the team, oral history training.
- 15 Jan – 10-1pm online training and interview preparation.
- 7 OR 12 Feb – 10-4pm in-person (LCF East, Stratford, London). Volunteers can choose one of two interviewing days.
Further informal dates to be arranged to suit the group.
9 April – Exhibition launch. All volunteers invited.
We will make every effort to be flexible with dates and arrangements but some things have to be booked in advance and can’t be moved.
What we need to find out from you?
If you like the sound of this programme and feel you can commit to this amazing project and opportunity, please get in touch with Marylla Patrzalek m.patrzalek@fashion.arts.ac.uk and tell us why it has appealed to you. You need to respond by 18th December.
You don’t need any previous experience, and you will be offered support and mentoring throughout the programme. However you do need enthusiasm and commitment. We hope to create a diverse and exciting young team of people, who will respect each other’s views, styles and skills as we start to work together. An interest in people and what motivates them is essential, as are good listening skills. An interest in costume design and creation would also be welcomed.
Making More Mischief’ is a project by London College of Fashion, UAL in partnership with the Museum of British Folklore.
It forms part of the exciting cultural programme at the LCF East Bank for 2024.
Made possible by the National Lottery Heritage Grant, thanks to National Lottery players.
