Mary HamiltonA city centre culture project is calling for Norwich people to share their memories and stories of life in one of the oldest parts of the city.Support Norwich on FacebookMary Hamilton

A city centre culture project is calling for Norwich people to share their memories and stories of life in one of the oldest parts of the city.

King Street Community Voices, based at Dragon Hall at the heart of King Street, is a new community history project which aims to foster a sense of community in the area through shared culture and recollections.

The project is hoping to record participants on video discussing the area's history, and has already produced a promotional film which is showing at the Forum.

Natasha Harlow, learning officer at Dragon Hall, said: 'Ideally we want to bring back a community feeling in the area and help King Street on its way to being a cultural quarter.

'I do think it can be a great way of helping people to feel part of their community.

'It can be quite isolating in city areas where you do not know your neighbours. If there is a focus like this it gets people to recognise each other in the street, it engages people with each other and it helps city life become less lonely.'

The aim of the project is to document the history, culture and community of the area known in the Middle Ages as Conesford, using digital video and audio to record individual recollections.

The team are keen to contact people with stories of life in the area, which stretches from the cathedral precinct to Bracondale and is centred on King Street.

Ms Harlow said: 'We want all sorts of memories - we would like to hear from people who were at the King Street Festival, for instance, or people who remember the Argyle Street squatters.'

The King Street Community Voices film, which is currently showing at the Forum, is the result of collaboration between Dragon Hall staff and volunteers, the East Anglian Film Archive and BBC Voices.

It features archive footage showing the changing face of Norwich, from the early 20th century to the present day.

Volunteer Shea Fiddes, 62, who helped to produce the short movie, said: 'The point of the film is to introduce the community history project, and to encourage people to share their memories of living or working in the area.

'It's a living history project to complement the long and colourful past of King Street.'

Mr Fiddes, who ran an art centre in London before retiring to live on Meadowbrook Close in Norwich, said he got involved because of his interest in the history and culture of the city.

'When I came to live here I wanted to contribute to the community,' he said. 'I think people's personal histories are important - everyone's life has something to celebrate and to interest and to intrigue others.'

The King Street Community Voices film will show at Fusion at the Forum until March 27. Project members will be on hand to speak to at the What Next? Stand, Monday to Friday from 10am to 2pm.

To get involved with King Street Community Voices, call 01603 677624, email kscv@dragonhall.org or visit www.dragonhall.org.

Are you volunteering with a community project? Call reporter Mary Hamilton on 01603 772418 or email mary.hamilton@archant.co.uk.

Help bring more community culture projects to life in the city by backing Norwich's bid to be the first UK City of Culture in 2013. Here's how you can get involved:

Send your ideas or volunteer to contribute by emailing cityofculture@norwich.gov.uk.

Tell us about events, projects or groups you're involved with by calling 01603 772418 or emailing mary.hamilton@archant.co.uk.

Tell us why you're backing the bid by emailing mary.hamilton@archant.co.uk or calling 01603 772418.

Show your support and let us know about events happening where you are by joining the Norwich 2013 Facebook group at www.tinyurl.com/Norwich-2013.

Follow the Evening News Back the Bid campaign on Twitter at www.twitter.com/norwichculture.

Read more about the City of Culture bid at www.en24.co.uk/culture.

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