Storying Futures: Reimagining The Future of Moulsecoomb Place
By Emily James
Over the course of four inspiring days between the 19th and 22nd of June, the local Moulsecoomb community came together to celebrate creativity, collaboration, and the environment through the Storying Futures Co-creative Heritage Festival at Moulsecoomb Place. The festival was created and organised by the University of Brighton, led by Dr Zakkiya Khan and Dr Rafaella Siagkri.
Storying Futures brought together local residents, students, researchers and community groups to create a unique opportunity for people to share their ideas, experiences, and aspirations for the future of this historic space.
The festival was designed to encourage conversations about what Moulsecoomb Place could become and how the space can continue to thrive with the people who live, study, and work in the area. By creating this welcoming environment where everyone’s voice could be heard, participants were invited to imagine the potential possibilities and contribute to a shared vision for the future.
Activities that took place included interacting with virtual reality headsets to help visualise what the developments at Moulsecoomb Place might look like in the future. There was also collage making so participants could express their ideas in tactile, imaginative ways, helping to spark meaningful discussions about the building, the community, identity, and belonging.
Storying Futures was an opportunity for people to reflect on the history and character of Moulsecoomb Place while considering how the space can evolve to meet the needs of future generations. This project has highlighted the importance of collective thinking while demonstrating how powerful community-led discussions can be impactful for shaping local spaces and shared environments.
Each day welcomed a diverse range of participants, bringing fresh perspectives and valuable insights to the conversation. From families and local residents to students and researchers, the event showcased the strength and diversity of the Moulsecoomb community.
The ideas, stories, and aspirations shared during these four days will help inform future discussions and plans for the buildings. The contributions made by attendees have laid the foundations for a vision that reflects the needs, values, and ambitions of the residents in the area.
A huge thank you goes out to everyone who participated, as well as the dedicated volunteers, researchers, and community partners whose hard work and commitment made the event possible. Your creativity, energy, and willingness to share your perspectives have helped make Storying Futures a truly memorable and meaningful experience.
East Brighton Trust is supporting communities to have a voice and enabling access to a historic building which was at risk of private development. By opening the doors of Moulsecoomb Place to aligned creative and developmental organisations, they are creating a space that people are able to explore their full potential through arts, enterprise, training, wellbeing or just to connect and ‘be’ with others.