Written by Shelley McKeown Jones, Ph.D., Professor of Social Psychology, University of Oxford.
We are excited to share the latest findings from the Shared Spaces Project.
Led by Prof. Shelley McKeown Jones (University of Oxford) and funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, the Shared Spaces Project explores the factors that influence whether or not young people in Belfast and Bradford choose to interact with people from different ethnic, religious or racial groups.
As part of the project, we worked with 10 young people aged 16-18 in Belfast to curate an exhibition that presents their photographs and reflections on growing up in the city. The exhibition tells us how public spaces, such as restaurants, parks, streets or buses, are viewed and how they shape young peoples’ experiences of community relations.
Featuring discussion with the young people and the researchers who interviewed them, the exhibition takes stock of how young people in Belfast view progress made toward good relations, stimulating thinking on remaining challenges. We hope that their photos and comments will contribute to a new understanding of young people’s perceptions of everyday social life in Belfast. And, that this with offer important insights for researchers, civil society organisations and government officials.
A physical exhibition showcasing the Shared Spaces Project took place during Good Relations Week in 2023. A digital copy of the exhibition can be found here and a copy of the related research paper can be found here.
If you are interested in learning more about the shard spaces project, please visit our website or contact project lead, Prof. Shelley McKeown Jones: shelley.mckeownjones@psy.ox.ac.uk