At The Liminal Space we believe that sensory, creative methods connect people to human truths, build empathy across divides and enable deeper engagement with the issues that are transforming society. Boardroom presentations and policy whitepapers can quantify and summarise the issues of the day — whether the alarming need for ecological action, the cost of living crisis, or the impact of technology on our lives. Creative storytelling, however, bears witness to the individual lives lived and affected by these issues, helping us step into and make sense of possible futures and our place within them, and giving us the tools to imagine and create better.
We were approached by SHiFT to help them create an exhibition to help the public see and understand the work they do. SHiFT is a charity that gets alongside young people and their families who are caught up in the destructive cycle of crime, enabling them to break the cycle through the support of dedicated guides. The SHiFT programme has compelling results to share: participation costs £16,000 a year, in contrast with the £76,000 spent on keeping a child in a Young Offenders’ Institution — but the value they deliver on a human level is held in the intangible, in the nuance of their expertise and the trusting relationships they build.
What did we do?
Shifting Perceptions told the story of this work and its impact through the voices of the young people and their inspirational guides, opening to the public in June 2022 at Gallery@OXO, Southbank, London.
Three walk-in installations recreated familiar, in-between locations chosen by some of the children working with SHiFT. A mother’s voice, for example, emanated from a football floating above an astroturf pitch, recalling how her son’s determination, with help from his guide, has challenged every assumption that he would never get back to school. Provocations on the walls asked viewers to consider their own upbringing and support systems: Who stayed up to make sure you were home safe?Who helped you to say sorry? As each story unfolded, visual cues enabled visitors to put themselves in the shoes of real people and real families who are gradually piecing their lives back together with the help of SHiFT. The end game? To inspire advocacy, action and investment from stakeholders, policymakers and funders.
What next?
There was so much we wanted to say about our work with SHiFT that we decided to launch a new series of collaborative conversations, exploring cutting edge approaches to designing for social impact.
Our first The Liminal Space Convenes took place in June at the exhibition, with guests speakers Sophie Humphreys OBE (SHiFT), Sidd Khajuria (Science Gallery London/Grand Plan) and Julian Thompson (Rooted by Design) joining The Liminal Space Director, Sarah Douglas. Find out more about some of the thinking behind our Convenes series on our blog:
