Together Culture Cambridge launches ‘Let’s Go Fly the Kite’ heritage project
Together Culture Cambridge launched its ‘Let’s Go Fly the Kite’ citizen heritage and enterprise project last Friday (6 September).
Over the next six months, Together Culture will gather people in a citizen science project to reveal the co-operative, entrepreneurial, activist and progressive history of the Kite area of Cambridge.
A collaboration between Together Culture Cambridge, Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) and The Cambridge Room, the project is also supported by the Cambridge Science Centre and funded by The Heritage Fund.
Speakers at the event at 5 Fitzroy Street, in the heart of the Kite area, included Heather Thomas, founder and CEO of Together Culture, Gary Packham, senior vice provost of ARU, and Cambridge’s Labour MP Daniel Zeichner.
Mr Zeichner explained that he has been following Together Culture Cambridge as it has been growing from one room on Hills Road, to a tent outside of The Fitzwilliam and now to Fitzroy Street.
Given his own background in social entrepreneurship, he said he was interested in knowing more about how his office can help the community interest company to grow.
Prof Packham explained that ARU aims to be a ‘porous’ university that shares knowledge and resources to enable the entire community to thrive.
He called for an expanded vision of the redevelopment of The Kite from a life science quarter to a ‘science of life quarter’ and explained that partnerships like the one between Together Culture Cambridge and ARU are essential for such a vision.
Heather Thomas said: “Together Culture is launching ‘Let’s Go Fly the Kite’ because a huge piece of the story of Cambridge is missing from the typical narrative of this extraordinary city.
“There is healing that needs to be done in Cambridge to move beyond centuries of division, and Together Culture believes engaging with the heritage of the Kite is a way to shift our culture to reshape systems that are far more equitable.”
Ten local people will be recruited to train to work as oral historians and story editors. Those who are interested in these paid positions should visit togetherculture.com to apply.
