An exploration of ancestral DNA and the ties that bind us to the city we call home.

Artistic Director Paul Broesmith was selected as a member of the new Derby Creative Arts Network (CAN) an arts council-funded creative hub. Following a period of artistic development and training, Paul and The Lost Boys worked with 18 participants from across Derby communities to explore their ancestral DNA, how they came to be in Derby and the impact they have had on the city and vice versa. This exploration was carried out in different artistic workshops including, mask-making, songwriting, dance, creative writing, and drama. The results are a new stage production performed at Derby Theatre Studio and a mobile exhibition in Derby and festivals across the county.

A multi-art exhibition inspired by the wonderful city and people of Derby. Showcasing the work of 15 participants as they reveal their own journey of DNA discoveries exploring their cultural heritage that has inspired creative writing, art, music, mask making, and performance.

Who are you? Where did you come from? How did you end up here? Come explore the mobile multi-art exhibition held in a touring caravan at the Market Place and Markeaton Craft Village. This exhibition is the result of a participatory arts project exploring ancestral DNA in ethnically diverse citizens of Derby.

The Project and Exhibition
An unassuming caravan sits in different locations across Derby, but this is no ordinary caravan.This caravan is a travelling cave of interactive digital handprints left behind by community artists and performers, who want to tell you their stories. Their Ancestories...

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.