The Past We Inherit, The Future We Build
You could hear the procession for miles. Bagpipes, brass bands, endless beating drums - I hadn’t expected the Durham Miners’ Gala to feel so vast. But scale wasn’t the only surprise awaiting me. Walking between the stalls, I noticed the blend of tradition and innovation was displayed side by side: banners painted with beautiful historical images next to others advertising the opening of a new gallery or event. It seems contradictory on paper, the Gala’s left-wing roots, its historic ties to fossil fuels - and yet, standing there, it works. The politics meshes seamlessly with the fair-style fun of fast food trucks and interactive activities filling the tents.
It was within our own tent, though, that I found myself most struck by my conversations with guests. My questions centered on the challenges creatives face across the County. I’ll admit, I went in with assumptions: I expected people to dwell on the County’s historic difficulties, on the familiar narrative of the underfunded arts sector. Instead, there was one matter people truly wanted to talk about: community. Looking back, that’s the golden thread that connects conversations about young people, exhibition spaces, mentoring programmes and more. It reminded me that the arts don’t matter for their own sake, but who they bring together.
Hi! I'm Bruna, a first-year English Literature undergraduate at Durham University, currently working on my research project. My passion for stories is reflected in my research which focuses on examining storytelling's role in policymaking in creative fields in County Durham.
I am from Brazil but have lived in the Netherlands and Kuwait and therefore have come to love learning all about languages and cultures. Moving around also means I am always open to learning more and adapting to new situations.
In my free time, I am usually cosplaying an old grandma: I crochet, embroider, bake and read. At times, I may also be playing the sims.
Please feel free to reach out!
