Culture Syndicates CIC

Posted: 14th June 2016  In  Exploring History Joseph Merrick was born in Leicestershire in 1862. Unlike more dramatic representations of his life, starring the likes of John Hurt and Bradley Cooper, Merrick was not born disfigured and took control of his own career in ‘freak shows’ as an adult. ​ Joseph Merrick’s disability was triggered around the age of 2, when disfigured tumours began to appear on his body. Merrick himself believed an old folk belief that his disfigurement was due to his mother being frightened by an elephant during pregnancy; yet he is now thought to have suffered from Proteus syndrome. Merrick’s disfigurement was degenerative, worsening with age until his job at a Leicester cigar shop became physically impossible for him. Poverty forced Merrick to enter the Leicester union workhouse, ‘Hillcrest’, at the age of 17. ​  ​In 1884, Merrick was desperate to find a way out of the depravity of the workhouse. Taking control of his disability as far as possibl...

  First Posted:  9th June 2016  In  News And Opportunities On Wednesday 8th June, we celebrated the achievements of our local heritage sector at the Nottinghamshire Heritage Conference and Awards. The event was hosted by the Nottinghamshire Heritage Forum with Nottingham Trent University and Culture Syndicates CIC. ​ Congratulations to all of the shortlisters and winners! Culture Syndicates CIC, would like to thank all of those who were involved in the event. ​ A press release and list of thanks are provided below: Thank you to the shortlisters: Heather Green, Postgraduate student on MA in Museum and Heritage Development Caitlin Peck, Postgraduate student on MA in Museum and Heritage Development Skye Basset, Postgraduate student on MA in Museum and Heritage Development Thank you to the judges: John Holmes, BBC Nottingham Dr Andrew Gritt, NTU Erin Huckle, Experience Nottinghamshire Thank you to the speakers throughout the day: Emma Varnam, Interim ...

  First Posted: 6th June 2016  In  Exploring History The modern concept of Father’s Day can be traced back to Spokane, Washington, North America in 1909, where Sonora Louise Smart Dodd questioned why there was a day to honour one’s mother but not one’s father. Dodd’s mother had died in childbirth, leaving her father to take care of six children alone, instilling in Dodd a desire to celebrate him in the same manner society celebrated their mothers. Inspired by Anna Jarvis’ plight to promote Mother’s Day, Dodd began her campaign whilst being supported by local charities, leading to Spokane celebrating its first Father’s Day on June 19th 1910. The popularity of the American Father’s Day was bolstered by the backing of presidents Woodrow Wilson and Calvin Coolidge who lent their support to the idea as a way to encourage closer family ties. Divorce rates had doubled in a relatively short period and Father’s Day was viewed as a necessary protection of the nuclear family. In 196...