Historian and Producer Join the Team!

The Irish Cultural Centre is excited to be working with a Historian and a Producer over the next few months, so we decided to have a chat to them and get to know them a bit better! Nicola will be working with the archives and the history of the Irish Cultural Centre and Nicolas, a producer, will be documenting the demolition and re-building of the centres base.

Nicola has been attending Irish Cultural Centres regularly since she was just 12 years old. She plays the Irish Uilleann pipes and regularly attended the pipers club at the San Francisco United Irish Cultural Centre. Irish music was what originally attracted her to the Irish Cultural Centre Hammersmith, as well as having Irish family links. 

Nicola moved to London last September and studied for her Masters in International History at the London School of Economics, with her thesis focusing on Irish Cultural Centres including looking at the ourselves!  Through her time at the Irish Cultural Centre Nicola would like to gain skills in archive and management for historic projects. She also works with another archive developing her knowledge of archival systems.  This volunteer programme provides Nicola with an exciting opportunity to start on a project working to unite digital and material archive systems as well as working on research for grant applications. With her prior knowledge of the centre and its work she is keen to get stuck in with the archive and we can’t wait to see what she can dig out for us!

Nicolas, who recently set up his own production company, wants diversity in his career, as I’m sure we all do to some extent! Every production he works on is different and he is keen to work on a variety of projects to sustain this diversity and interest. In his words, “If you’re not busy you’re not healthy!”  He is keen to meet new people through this opportunity and is full of ideas!

Nicolas will be working on a film of the demolition of the old Irish Cultural Centre premises as well as filming the progress of the new construction as it takes shape, creating a time lapse film along with the promise of other exciting elements including animation!  Nicolas is used to working outside his comfort zone and enjoys working with other people to share ideas. While working with a cinematographer on the Irish Cultural Centre project Nicolas explained that occasionally other people can bring new things to projects that you miss yourself. On this occasion the cinematographer pointed out that by putting a camera on top of Marks and Spencers to film the construction, the church, and therefore the clock, would be in the background. In a time-lapse film a clock will be particularly effective at showing the passing of time!

As Nicola and Nicolas discuss their projects together, clear ties between the archive work and the filming are unfolding, with bountiful ideas flowing of capturing stories about the old building as well as the development of the new building so generations to come can re-visit this new story. 

I’m sure you will agree that the work of Nicola and Nicolas promises to bring up some fascinating insights into the history and future of the Irish Cultural Centre. We will be keeping you updated with their work through this blog so stay tuned!

Written by Lily Middleton