Preston FM has been following the creation of a new exhibition which chronicles the heritage of disabled people living in Preston.  The exhibition, which was the idea of the Moor Lane Resource Centre, and was facilitated by Prescap , launched on 3rd December 2008 to co-incide with the International Day for Disabled People.

See the background on the exhibition, along with photos and podcasts, here: 

Artists Des Butler and Kate Eggleston-Wirtz were contracted to facilitate the research & workshops and to lead on building the installation with the staff and service users of Moor Lane Resource Centre.

The idea of the History Zone Installation has evolved from the ideas of service users at the resource centre, who wanted to present the heritage of disabled people in a creative and accessible way to enable the wider community of the city to share and appreciate their findings. The exhibition stands proudly as three interactive towers built in a modular system to enable elements to be used as teaching aids or as exhibits elsewhere.  Low tech, hands on and high tech, touch screen elements show viewers the rich heritage of local disabled people set in a national context.  Objects, images, sounds and video depict the hardships of the past and the changing present whilst the future is there for us all to write.

For more information, visit the evolving History Zone website . 

Here are some images from the launch, along with podcasts featuring the artists and service users involved in the project:

• See all podcasts
  
• Podcast 1 - Artists Des & Kate interviewed on Preston FM's Community Reports show.
• Podcast 2 - Gary & Zana from Moor Lane Resource Centre.
• Podcast 3 - Project Manager Christine Stringfellow, on the Positive About Disabilities show.
  
• Podcast 4 - Artist Des Butler on the Positive About Disabilities show.
  
• Podcast 5 - Artist Kate Eggleston-Wirtz on the Positive About Disabilities show.
• Podcast 6 - Artist Kate Eggleston-Wirtz on the Preston Arts Scene show.
• Podcast 7 - Mike Allen catches up with artists and service users at the installation launch event.