Sharing oral history with the wider public: Experiences of the Refugee Communities History Project

The Refugee Communities History Project has sought to share refugee community oral history life story material with refugee communities but also with the wider public, school groups and tourists visiting the exhibition “Belonging” held at the Museum of London from October 2006 until February 2007. This paper will explore issues that may arise when sharing material with audiences “outside” of the community from which material is collected. Issues to consider when making material accessible to audiences who feel negatively about, prejudiced against or hostile towards the communities from which material is collected will be discussed.