Civic Pride

Manchester Met Students Explore Civic Pride Through Digital Storytelling.

Students from the BA (Hons) History, Politics and Philosophy programme at Manchester Metropolitan University worked closely with university staff and Manchester Histories to explore the theme of Civic Pride, creating a series of digital magazines.

Drawing on a rich range of resources, including archives, online collections, and photographic libraries the students developed original stories exploring the people, places, communities and movements that have shaped Manchester and beyond.

The work celebrates the many different ways in which history can create a sense of identity, belonging and pride in place. Each magazine brings a different perspective, revealing stories that connect individual experiences with the wider history and heritage of our communities.

The resulting work is both a celebration of historical enquiry and creative expression and an opportunity to reflect on what civic pride means today. By looking to the past, the students explore how people have shaped the places in which they live and how understanding those histories can help us think differently about our communities and their futures.

The project also gave students the opportunity to work with an external cultural organisation, supporting their career development and providing valuable experience beyond the classroom. It reflects Manchester Metropolitan University’s commitment to meaningful public engagement, collaboration and sharing knowledge beyond academia.

Please take a look at the different digital magazines below. They are best viewed in full-screen mode.

Manchester Histories would like to thank the team at the Department of History, Politics and Philosophy at Manchester Metropolitan University for enabling us to collaborate on this project, and all the students whose creativity, research and hard work brought these digital magazines to life.

Through their exploration of Civic Pride, the students have shown that pride in place can mean many different things. From music, culture and political movements to community, identity, heritage and belonging, they have uncovered stories that reflect the richness and diversity of Manchester and Greater Manchester.

Most importantly, they have demonstrated that civic pride is not simply about celebrating the past. It is about understanding the people and experiences that have shaped our places, recognising the communities that continue to shape them today, and thinking about the kind of places we want to create for the future.

We are delighted to have worked with the students and to share their ideas, perspectives and stories with a wider audience.