Global Threads

Global Threads: Call for expressions of interest

Project details

Global Threads is a public history collaboration between the Centre for the Study of the Legacies of British Slave-ownership, UCL and the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester, part of the Science Museum Group. Global Threads will conduct original research into Manchester’s buildings, locations, memorials and museum objects to draw out new and previously under-described stories of lived experience, resistance and solidarity in relation to colonialism, enslavement and the city’s cotton economy. Global Threads will also hold a series of discussions with diverse groups of Mancunians to address representation and the broadening of narratives in relation to the city’s history, and present the outcomes of these discussions.

The project feeds into work taking place across the Science Museum Group to reveal histories that have previously been under-represented or overlooked, as part of its commitment to inclusive storytelling. Global Threads will support content development for a future, permanent gallery at the Science and Industry Museum.

The opportunity

We are recruiting a diverse team of Greater Manchester-based postgraduates to work in collaboration with UCL’s Centre for the Study of the Legacies of British Slave-ownership (LBS) and the Science and Industry Museum (SIM) on Global Threads. We invite expressions of interest from Greater Manchester-based MA and PhD students and recent postgraduates to work as freelance contributors to research a series of historic case-studies and generate online written and audio content based on their research. Payment for satisfactory completion of each commissioned case-study will be £550. There will be an opportunity for each researcher to pitch for a maximum of three case studies.

Requirements

Applicants should be Greater Manchester or North West-based. Initial research projects are planned to be completed online-only, but access to local archives and heritage locations is expected later in the project. Applicants must be engaged in postgraduate study in history or a related subject, either currently studying at Masters level, graduated at Masters level in 2019 or 2020, or a current PhD candidate. Applicants must have experience of conducting independent academic research projects. We would like to recruit a diverse team of researchers and welcome applications of candidates from BAME backgrounds.

How to express interest

The deadline for expressions of interest is 5th April 2021.
Submissions should be made via the online form available here.

You will be required to submit a two-page CV and answer four questions related to your experience and skills.

Further details

Successful researchers will be commissioned for each case study on a freelance basis and paid after satisfactory delivery of content and submission of a valid invoice. You will be required to be registered as a self-employed worker, and provide a valid UTC number before invoices can be paid. If you are not already registered, you can do this through the HMRC website once work has been commissioned.

Submitters of successful expressions of interest will be invited to attend an online workshop hosted by LBS and SIM on Wednesday 21st April 2021. Workshop attendees will then have two weeks to plan and discuss case studies with LBS and SIM and will be invited to pitch case-studies by Wednesday 5th May 2021.

Once commissioned, the contributors will be supported by and work in collaboration with LBS and SIM to research, create, and review the case-studies. The final content must be delivered by 14th July 2021.

For all enquiries and more information about the project please contact Dr Matthew Stallard.