Ancestories is a participatory arts project conceived by Paul Broesmith as part of Derby CAN. Over a period of nine months, 15 volunteers from different communities across Derby and Derbyshire developed art and a live performance inspired by their own ancestral DNA, genealogy, and introspective exploration. This journey saw the group work with professional artists and performers including, musicians, songwriters, dance choreographers, fight choreographers, mask makers, theatre-makers, and digital artists.
Their journey was guided by questions; Who are you? Where did you come from? How did you get here? What impact has Derby had on you and have you had on Derby? The work in this exhibition is their response to those questions and the enlightenment they found on their journey of ancestral DNA discovery. So visit the caravan, the cave and place your own hand on top of theirs and witness their work come to light.
The Derby Creative Arts Network (CAN) is a new project led by Derby Theatre and funded by the Arts Council England Producing Hubs funded project.