Latest news with #Homegrown
Mint
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
Archiving family history: These platforms are building a community of memory keepers
There is an evocative story, titled My Nani's pajeb, shared by Samriddhi Roy on the website of The Museum of Material Memory. The post from June 2020 delves into the memories associated with a pair ofpayals,which has been in the family for nearly 160 years. Roy's story does not just look at the familial history associated with the pajeb,but also etches a portrait of the lifestyle prevalent in a landowner's family in Munger district, Bihar, between the 1940s-50s. She then draws connections between the various women of the family as the jewel and its stories are passed down from generation to generation, with the author wearing it during her graduation in 2019. 'Immersed in its time thepayalmay be loud today and languid tomorrow, but nani's story is real, and it matters because that voice is hers. And each time she narrates it, she lives the soulful, sentimental, eerie trajectory, which is her life," she writes. On another website, Memorabilia: An Ode to Family History,you can find similar stories. In one post, Sambrita Chakraborty, a student of history at Jadavpur University, reminisces about her maternal uncle's home, ormamabari,in Behala, where she spent most of her childhood days. Of all the spaces in this house, the rooftop was the dearest to her. On one corner was the attic stacked with books of Russian folktales. Especially striking was a cabinet, with its law books, and an old rotary phone on top. 'It was long out of order and the line was disconnected. But my delight in turning the dial to hear the krik sound and importantly say 'Hello' into the receiver was no less than gobbling up cotton candy at a fair," she writes. Like Roy and Chakraborty, all of us have grown up with stories of objects and curios passed down through the family. Over time, as the original functions of these materials were removed, some of these were discarded, or they continue to stand quietly in one corner of the house, waiting to be nudged so that they can whisper their stories once again. Family histories were mostly taken for granted until the covid-19 pandemic lockdown in 2020. As we ended up spending more time at home, these objects came into focus once again. Also read: The quest for culinary history's missing pieces With so much memory associated with them, people were hesitant to cast them aside. So, then the question arose, how do we find out more about them and keep them relevant? 'While hoarding is something we should all be wary of, the act of mindfully conserving and archiving prized heirloom objects and personal/familial possessions allows us to locate ourselves within the historical context of our locales, and through this act of contextualising and locating ourselves, connect to our roots," states a 2024-article by Drishya in Homegrown about such archival projects. With some leisure at hand, people started turning to platforms such as The Museum of Material Memory and Memorabilia for direction on documenting their family's stories. People as young as 16 and as old as 80 turned their gaze inwards to create personal archives of all shapes and sizes. Today, this tribe of memory keepers has only grown with the guidance of such digital platforms. The idea for Memorabilia took root when Srilagna Majumdar was around 18. It all started when her father brought out an ikophot, a handheld meter made in the 1950s by Zeiss Ikon in Germany. This object had once belonged to her grandfather, Shyamal Kumar Majumdar, who had probably procured it from Fancy Market, Kolkata, in the 1960s. This moment led her to look closely at her grandfather's history—a banker with varied interests in photography, history, literature and music. As she collected oral testimonies and archived material objects, Majumdar was surprised to learn that no one before her dadu had been even remotely interested in the arts. 'Whatever dadu loved, he wanted to share that with others and spread the passion. I am striving to make this larger purpose of his into a reality," she wrote in a 2024-post on The Museum of Material Memory site. It was this idea that led her to start the self-funded digital Shyamal Majumdar Archive in 2022. Also read: An exhibition to celebrate 'risha' a breast cloth that tells stories of Tripura's tribal women As the stories began to garner positive response, people came forth with submissions of their own family stories. So, Majumdar included a blog section within the website, making her grandfather's archive a section on it. She then opened it up to people as a space to freely share their stories. 'This started with a photo essay on women's day a couple of months ago. Through the project, I want to convey to young people that you don't need to be an archivist or a historian to document your family's history," says 26-year-old Majumdar, who is a researcher and cultural history practitioner. She now conducts workshops about ways to document heirloom objects at home. One such session was held last year in Hyderabad, where she shared her own experiences of preserving photos, letters, records, and more. 'Every six months, Memorabilia offers an internship for youth and students. In this program, participants record, digitise, research, and organise family and marginal histories, gaining a holistic view of personal histories and the tools to preserve it.' It was with a similar vision of empowering people to tell their family's story that The Museum of Material Memory was set up in 2017 by Aanchal Malhotra and Navdha Malhotra as a digital repository of material culture of the Indian subcontinent. The idea was to trace family history and social ethnography through heirlooms, collectibles and objects of antiquity. The project has its roots in Aanchal's research work around the Partition of 1947—she has authored several books on the subject such asRemnants of a the scope and focus of The Museum of Material Memory is not on the Partition or any particular state but to moments—big and small— from across the subcontinent. Aanchal and Navdha have been friends since school, with the latter driving social impact through strategic communications and digital innovation. 'One day, we were having a conversation about how people were approaching Aanchal while she was compiling her book, to know whether she would be willing to visit them to see their objects. It was then we decided to build a crowdsourced platform wherein people could make submissions and write about their personal objects on their own," says Navdha. The decision to go digital was deliberate—the two co-founders wanted a medium that was accessible and democratic, and which allowed them to crowdsource stories. 'In traditional gallery and museum setups, a third person ends up telling a community's stories. We wanted to give people tools to archive their own histories, and disseminate them the way they wish to," she adds. 'Our vision is to build an organic community of memory keepers." Also read: Why Puducherry's French citizens are returning to the seaside town Back in 2017, the duo decided to have a timeline to feature objects predating the 1970s. However, it is relatively fluid. As technology and times evolve, It won't be surprising if younger people start submitting stories of old mobile phones. The only caveat is that the object needs to have belonged to someone in the family, and not something that was bought for the self. Intergenerational dialogue is key to this project. They encourage people to seek out relatives and extended family to unearth stories of an heirloom, which might have belonged to their grandparents or great grandparents. 'Once people approach us, we share a set of guidelines—a set of prompts, if you will—that point them in the right direction," explains Navdha. It is interesting to see youth as young as 16 approach their platform. They recently conducted a virtual internship programme as part of the YLAC Artivist Fellowship, wherein they worked with three students from middle and high schools in Bengaluru and Delhi. 'Both Aanchal and I were left amazed at their sensibilities and sensitivities to the process of archiving. They were excited about weekly meetings and the process of taking stories forward. We learnt as much from them, especially in relation to their ideas on digital visual content," she adds. Food is a dominant theme that runs like a thread through memories of grandparents across the country. Nearly everyone has a story of an heirloom recipe. It is to enable a sharing of such memories that Chef Thomas Zacharias started the Local Food Club in May under May under The Locavore—an initiative to champion regional food and sustainability through storytelling, recipes and events. These clubs are powered by communities of food enthusiasts, who gather together for monthly potlucks to celebrate local cuisines, share stories and take collective action. The project, supported by Rainmatter Foundation, has 2,700 members today—home cooks, curious eaters, students, farmers, neighbours, and more— spread across over 50 cities. 'The idea was to empower people with agency to tell their stories. We want to decentralise the process, which saw a lot of gatekeeping earlier. The local food communities can now co-create documentation projects and archive things either individually or together," says Zacharias. Last Sunday, 6 July, saw 500 people gather in 14 cities, to take this forward. The Local Food Club is witnessing participation from people aged 18 to 80, with a lot of intergenerational sharing taking place at every event. 'This creates a sense of belonging and triggers action," he adds. Also read: From tripe to trotters, offal gets an upscale makeover To me, the most significant contribution of such platforms has been to make people cognisant of the value of family histories. While growing up, we had a very outward looking view of life, wherein the external and the global was far more important than anything else. 'Today, however, education formats nudge you to look inwards. The digital era has created greater access to different kinds of storytelling and ever since the pandemic, we have noticed a surge in people wanting to share their memories. They finally see value in their stories, and the need to record it," says Navdha.
NZ Herald
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
Excitement in Hamilton as Homegrown music festival's return to the city is announced
Drummer Nic Martin said the band was thrilled to hear the festival will move to the Tron. 'I don't want to offend any other festivals, but [Homegrown] is without question our favourite festival. 'We are excited to see what the future looks like for Homegrown and even more excited that it will be in our backyard.' Martin couldn't confirm whether Devilskin will be part of the line-up, however, he said it would be special for the band if they were able to perform at Homegrown in Hamilton. 'Hamilton has been integral in Devilskin's journey. I'd attribute a lot of our success to our humble beginnings there.' He said he believed the Homegrown team 'absolutely' made the right decision coming to the Waikato. 'Especially after Meatstock at Mystery Creek that we had the opportunity to be a part of. Across the two days, there were between 15,000 and 20,000 attendees there. 'Say what you will about dirty old Hamilton, but the locals definitely love their music.' His message to sceptics: 'Give Hamilton a shot.' Creative Waikato chief executive Dr Jeremy Mayall agreed. 'Hamilton has really changed in the last few decades, but a lot of people don't give it a fair chance. 'There is a good reason for why it's here. A lot happens here.' Mayall said the event also had the potential to have a great positive effect on local creatives. Waikato Chamber of Commerce chief executive Don Good said the move was a great opportunity 'in so many ways' and 'a significant win' for Hamilton. 'Large-scale events like Homegrown attract thousands of visitors. 'With the festival's reputation for selling out and drawing crowds of more than 20,000, local businesses can expect a surge in foot traffic and revenue. 'Beyond immediate spending, the festival will further boost ... the region's reputation as a hub for creativity and entertainment.' Hamilton City Council deputy chief executive Sean Murray said that, according to initial estimates, more than 25,000 festivalgoers would spend about $3 million in total during their visit, which could result in 16,000 visitor nights. Hamilton and Waikato Tourism chief executive Nicola Greenwell said the organisation was 'absolutely thrilled' by the announcement. 'The excitement around Homegrown's return is palpable ... We look forward to working with organisers to ensure its success in Hamilton, creating an atmosphere that is welcoming, dynamic and truly representative of Waikato's spirit.' Hamilton Mayor Paula Southgate said that, with Hamilton-Australia flights starting in June, the event would be easily accessible for Kiwis and international tourists. Festival director Andrew Tuck and co-director Michael Lamusse said Hamilton's central location was one reason for choosing it as the new host. 'Accessibility is key for Homegrown,' Tuck said. 'Being close to such a large population makes this dream even more achievable.' The organisers said Hamilton's status as New Zealand's fastest-growing city also offered potential to 'expand and evolve while staying true to its roots'. The duo said they were proud Waikato locals, and the event was 'coming home' to the place 'where it all began'. The team ran the extreme sports event X*Air at Claudelands for three years before moving it to Wellington for four years. X*Air gradually evolved into the Homegrown festival. 'Returning to the Waikato is not just about nostalgia; it's about creating something that celebrates our roots and gives back to the region that inspired us,' Tuck said. 'We want the whole of Aotearoa to feel proud of this festival, and we are committed to making it unforgettable.' According to the release, several cities presented hosting proposals, but Hamilton's 'unique charm and cultural significance' stood out. Recent large-scale events in Hamilton include the Six60 concert in 2021 and the Summer Concert Tour 2024, both at Claudelands Oval, and the Fifa Women's World Cup in 2023. Wellington City Council said it was disappointed to see Homegrown leave Wellington, but it understood the decision. 'We will continue to explore new opportunities to bring exciting experiences to our community. We wish the festival organisers all the best in their new location.' Social media reactions to the Hamilton move were mixed. Tracey Powell commented: 'Wow something in The Tron, things are looking up! Hopefully we manage to keep this event unlike the Beer fest.' Ben Bright commented: 'Awesome! Now make it Anzac Homegrown so we can get some Aussie bands over too, and it will be amazing.' However, another commented: 'It will never be the same sorry mate disappointing.' Kristian Paul commented: 'Lol like when the 7s moved to Hamilton? Dead in 2 years.' Homegrown has taken place on Wellington's waterfront since it started in 2008, growing from a crowd of 10,000 to 23,000. It showcases genres including rock, reggae and hip-hop, and has hosted iconic acts including Sir Dave Dobbyn, Shihad, Six60, Shapeshifter and Opshop. When asked about how much it had cost to become the host city, Hamilton City Counci said the commercial agreement with Homegrown was confidential. 'I can confirm that this is being managed through existing council budgets and resources,' a spokesperson said. 'Council was not asked for any additional budget or resource to make this happen.'
Otago Daily Times
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Dunedin misses out on festival, eyes other events
Hamilton is the new host of the Homegrown festival. PHOTO: SUPPLIED While Dunedin may have narrowly missed out on securing a major music festival, the man in charge of the city's stadium says it is not the only event in its sights. Organisers announced yesterday Hamilton had been selected as the new home of the Jim Beam Homegrown music festival - with Dunedin singled out as a close second choice. Dunedin Venues chief executive Paul Doorn. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSH The annual festival has been held on Wellington's waterfront since 2008. Homegrown Events Ltd managing director Andrew Tuck said yesterday the proposal to move the event to Dunedin ''held firm and was in our final top two until the bitter end''. The decision came down to geography and making the music festival accessible to those who planned on travelling, he said. But Dunedin had potential that was yet to be unlocked, and further discussions were to be held with Dunedin Venues Management Ltd (DVML) about bringing a unique and regular music event to the city. These talks could happen within the next 12 months, Mr Tuck said. DVML chief executive Paul Doorn said it was disappointing Hamilton ''pipped us at the post'', but was pleased with the feedback they had received from the entertainment provider. The organisation had worked closely with the Dunedin City Council to make both the proposal and the Forsyth Barr Stadium precinct ''as compelling as we possibly can''. ''I thought we really offered up a compelling argument. Obviously Hamilton's done something similar and they've got the gig.'' Mr Doorn said DVML had already identified music festivals as ''a bit of a gap'' for Dunedin and it was working with promoters to explore what a music festival similar to Homegrown could look like in the city - among other concepts.
Otago Daily Times
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Dunedin misses out on festival
Hamilton is the new host of the Homegrown festival. PHOTO: SUPPLIED While Dunedin may have narrowly missed out on securing a major music festival, the man in charge of the city's stadium says it is not the only event in its sights. Organisers announced yesterday Hamilton had been selected as the new home of the Jim Beam Homegrown music festival - with Dunedin singled out as a close second choice. Dunedin Venues chief executive Paul Doorn. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSH The annual festival has been held on Wellington's waterfront since 2008. Homegrown Events Ltd managing director Andrew Tuck said yesterday the proposal to move the event to Dunedin ''held firm and was in our final top two until the bitter end''. The decision came down to geography and making the music festival accessible to those who planned on travelling, he said. But Dunedin had potential that was yet to be unlocked, and further discussions were to be held with Dunedin Venues Management Ltd (DVML) about bringing a unique and regular music event to the city. These talks could happen within the next 12 months, Mr Tuck said. DVML chief executive Paul Doorn said it was disappointing Hamilton ''pipped us at the post'', but was pleased with the feedback they had received from the entertainment provider. The organisation had worked closely with the Dunedin City Council to make both the proposal and the Forsyth Barr Stadium precinct ''as compelling as we possibly can''. ''I thought we really offered up a compelling argument. Obviously Hamilton's done something similar and they've got the gig.'' Mr Doorn said DVML had already identified music festivals as ''a bit of a gap'' for Dunedin and it was working with promoters to explore what a music festival similar to Homegrown could look like in the city - among other concepts.
1News
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- 1News
Homegrown music festival's new location revealed
Hamilton has been announced as the new home for the Homegrown music festival. In January the festival, which features New Zealand music, confirmed it would be leaving Wellington's waterfront after being there for 18 years. From next year it will be held at Hamilton's Claudelands Oval. Festival director Andrew Tuck said the move is "about creating something that celebrates our roots and gives back to the region that inspires us". Organisers said that Hamilton offers potential for the festival to expand and evolve. (Source: Breakfast) Organisers said that Hamilton offers potential for the festival to expand and evolve as New Zealand's fastest-growing city. "Its central location — just a short journey from the Bay of Plenty, Auckland, Coromandel, and the King Country — makes it accessible for a wide range of attendees eager to enjoy Aotearoa's finest musical acts." Tuck said accessibility for as many people as possible is key for the festival, and "being close to such a large population makes this dream even more achievable". Hamilton City Council deputy chief executive Sean Murray said the festival returning to the Waikato is "a win for the whole upper North Island". Next year's event will be held on March 14.
