The University of Local Knowledge (ULK) aims to bring together the knowledge and skills that exist in our area and share them with other people. ULK aims to challenge perceptions of how knowledge is organized and valued: reinforcing the importance of the knowledge that is gained through life experience and the value of sharing it.

Local people are invited to come forward to share their experience of a particular subject on camera. Up to 1,000 ‘classes’ will be filmed, lasting between 30 secs and 3 minutes long. These will be catalogued and uploaded to a specially designed website to form part of a course of study within a virtual University of Local Knowledge.

On 26th June 2010 the project was launched with a large-scale event, Lunch on the Green, at Filwood Broadway, which attracted over 250 people. Since then a dedicated team at KWMC has been filming and editing pieces of local knowledge.

Watch the launch meal of The University of Local Knowledge (ULK) with the BBC (real time)

Watch the launch meal of The University of Local Knowledge (ULK) with the BBC (time lapse)

Over the last few months filming has been taking place at the Filwood Community Centre, The Park, the Sisters of Charity Convent, The Sunrise Café, Springfield Rd allotments, Broadway Butchers, Eagle House and many more legendary Knowle West locations!

Some of the subjects filmed so far have been:

• Getting a community initiative off the ground

• An introduction to speaking Spanish

• Nurturing young people’s talents

• Dancing at 92

• How to develop & manage an allotment

• Starting a family business

• Health and safety in the kitchen

On Monday 6th December 2010 KWMC hosted a public screening event, showing some of the ‘classes’ that have been produced so far. Over 60 people came to see how their class fits in to the University of Local Knowledge and meet other contributors. As well as a selection of films being shown on the big screen, all edited films were available for contributors to search and view.

Watch this is a short montage video about The University of Local Knowledge (ULK)

During the summer of 2011, site-specific seminars will take place across the community. Academics will be paired with local experts for the opportunity to exchange ideas on a certain subject.

The ULK team has expanded and now includes a number of Community Researchers who are helping to recruit people to make films in 2011.

Keep an eye on the community website for more information and updates.

If you live in Knowle West and are interested in making a film, helping with a seminar or becoming a Community Researcher please do get in touch!

Contact Martha: martha@kwmc.org.uk 0117 9030444

The Knowle West ULK wiki is a space where you can write words, collect images and upload files.