Guidelines for Sharing Your Personal and Subjective Everyday Stories through Creative Mapping

Personal and Subjective Everyday Stories are Valuable Too!

This platform celebrates everyday heritage through creative mapping—capturing personal and lived experiences using artistic and expressive methods. Your unique story, told through creative media, helps us build a rich and inclusive atlas of Urban Riparian Post-Quarry-Landfill (URPQL) landscapes. Follow these guidelines to participate:

1. Reflect on Your Story

Start by considering your personal connection to the URPQL landscapes:

  • What memories, emotions, or reflections do these sites evoke for you?

  • How have you experienced the changes in these landscapes over time?

  • What are your hopes or visions for their future?

2. Choose a Creative Mapping Medium

Express your story through creative and visual media. Options include:

  • Collages: Combine photos, textures, and images to tell your story visually.

  • Drawings and Sketches: Illustrate your impressions, memories, or visions of these landscapes.

  • Photography: Capture moments, details, or perspectives that hold meaning for you.

  • Weaving or Textiles: Use fabric or patterns to symbolize connections and stories.

  • Mixed Media: Blend techniques like painting, digital art, or found objects to convey your perspective.

3. Map Your Story Creatively

Think about how your contribution fits into the Subjective Atlas:

  • What aspect of the landscape are you focusing on (e.g., a specific site, memory, or theme)?

  • How does your medium reflect your unique perspective or interaction with the site?

4. Technical Submission Details

  • Formats:

    • Visual works: Upload as .jpg, .png, or .pdf.

    • Multimedia works: Upload as .mp4 (video) or .mp3 (audio).

    • Text-based reflections: Submit as .docx, .txt, or .pdf.

  • File Size: Ensure each file is under 10MB.

  • Submission Process: Use the provided online form to upload your work. Include a brief description or title for context.

5. Subjectivity Matters

This atlas values subjectivity and creativity over neutrality or objectivity. Share your personal connection—your emotions, creativity, and reflections are essential to shaping this unique archive.

6. Acknowledge the Everyday

Don’t worry if your story feels “small” or “ordinary.” Everyday heritage is powerful, capturing the intangible and often-overlooked moments that shape our shared understanding of these landscapes.

7. Inspire a Shared Vision

Your creative contribution will help build a Subjective Atlas that weaves together personal and collective stories, reflecting the rich and multifaceted reality of URPQL landscapes. By participating, you’re helping to reimagine these sites and their possibilities for care, connection, and regeneration.

Thank you for bringing your creativity and perspective to this collaborative project!