UCL Special Collections – The New Curators Project 2024

Participants from The New Curators project give us an insight into their backgrounds, and their motivation and hopes for this year’s programme.

Shaniah Bond

Hello, My name is Shaniah Bond. I am fascinated with all things history, art, theatre and fashion. I have experience within the sustainability sector, assisting in the management of a zero waste store and experience working for a vintage reproduction fashion brand. I would love to ultimately be able to create a space where art and history become accessible to all, a space where people from all different walks of life can come into a space and feel moved by beautiful pieces of artwork. I am excited to conduct in depth archival research and to network with more experienced and passionate individuals.

Lola Fayokun

I am an activist and campaigner in youth groups around the climate crisis.  I am interested in the history and dynamics of politics, social movements, and gender.  I was drawn to this project because I am looking to discover more about how my unique set of experiences, skills and interests, can be brought to bear on the cultural heritage sector.  My favourite cultural heritage venues are the National Theatre Archive, the Barbican, Young V&A, and the Marianne North Gallery at Kew.

Ethan Coggin Costelloe

Hi, my name is Ethan, and I live in East Ham, Newham. I really enjoy meeting people and forming strong bonds whenever I am able to.  I also like engaging with my local area as well as London as a whole by learning its history, and seeing how and why things may have changed as well as signs of continuity with the past.  I would love the idea of educating people (in whatever capacity) as I see it as a kind of intersection between these areas.

Charlie Campbell Wright

My name is Charlie Campbell Wright.  I am an east Londoner born and raised, who enjoys art, mythology and reading.  I could never find my footing in formal education, but in some ways it’s made me lucky to be able to forge a path to discover what I really want to do; which is presenting the heritage and history of our nation.  My hope is to make at least one person realise just how profoundly interesting it is just as I did.

Mariam Shafiq

Hello, Asalamalaikum, my name is Mariam.  I am interested in exploring the different ways in which our present is connected to the past.  We are all individuals who have been inspired by the past in many ways, and it is good to reflect and learn from the past for our self-development.  I wish to learn different ways of researching history as well as the work which goes on behind exhibition creation.

Olivia Benjamin-MacDonald

I am a cultural producer, writer, curator, and researcher. I use storytelling and other creative mediums to critically engage in urgent questions and concepts around race, gender, sexuality, in public health, spatial and architectural practice, and culture. My goal is to create inclusive cultural spaces that honour diverse experiences, acknowledging the complexities of intersectionality. Working towards realising and reimagining radical futures, I am committed to centering and uplifting marginalised communities by focusing on alternative narratives and forms of knowledge.

Sadia Akhter

Hi, I’m Sadia from Newham! I moved here when I was 13, and it’s been my home since then. Growing up here has been a great learning experience thanks to the diverse community, history, and culture of this place, which taught me to appreciate learning about different cultures and their heritage. This is also one of the things that led me to develop an interest in traveling and learning languages, as it allowed me to experience, as well as understand, the different cultures around us more in depth. I look forward to learning more about Newham in this new journey, and who knows? Maybe I’ll discover a new passion from this experience 🙂

Esha Soogroo

Hi my name is Esha! My interests range from philosophy, historical culture, and visual editing.

I acknowledge and appreciate that I am a part of a long line of cultural heritage that has shaped the way I am today. In the past to the present people have expressed creativity with different outlets and different purposes to showcase our existence. Therefore keeping archives, artefacts, stories (etc), alive is so important, and I hope we continue to do so in more ethical ways. I am excited to see what experience, skills, and knowledge I can gain from this programme, and what I can offer to society going forward.