The amateur ancestor project
What if the key to our collective futures was our common heritage?
The Amateur Ancestor Project is a programme of workshops, alternative museum guided tours and storytelling events that places museum collections at the heart of climate action.
Taking a long view on the urgent problems we face, each experience is designed to expand your sense of time. In each we delve deep into the root causes of our current predicaments and use imagination to better illuminate the way forward.
"Thought-provoking, emotional, impactful”
“A highlight of the year”
“A powerful, sensory experience”
“Engaging, insightful and eye opening
”Dedicated, detailed and incredibly engaging“
“Tackles huge, important subjects in a way that feels intimate”
"Thought-provoking, emotional, impactful” “A highlight of the year” “A powerful, sensory experience” “Engaging, insightful and eye opening ”Dedicated, detailed and incredibly engaging“ “Tackles huge, important subjects in a way that feels intimate”
Why Ancestor? It is only once we start caring about something that we can start acting for its benefit. By recasting ourselves as ancestors to future generations, we are more likely to feel connected to them - and thus to care and act on their behalf.
Why Amateur? There is joy to be had in being an amateur - learning through practice and allowing others to feel like they do not have to wait to be experts to actively contribute in the change they want to see in the world.
Let’s work together
See the bigger picture: See how our natural, cultural, and industrial heritage connect and build a holistic picture of how we got to where we are.
Feel actively hopeful: Nurture your capacity to imagine a wider array of futures, growing your sense of agency and active hope.
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Commission an alternative tour of your museum collection or heritage site, which can be turnkey or developed collaboratively with staff and communities
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Commission an Amateur Ancestor Participatory workshop for your event or conference, such as ‘The Story of the Whale and The Steam Engine,’ a creative workshop exploring multigenerational thinking and our relationship to our environment first performed at the Blue Futures Conference, The Word, South Tyneside, Nov 2023
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Commission an Amateur Ancestor Story, a guided visualisation delving deep into the history of objects, to be recorded or performed to an audience, such as ‘A Golden Thread’, a empathetic and mind expanding time-travel piece about an Ancient Egyptian gold bracelet from the Great North Museum: Hancock, commissioned for the Great North Night, April 2024.
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Run a staff training or team building day exploring your company’s values and mission in depth, and helping your team reconnect to their wider sense of purpose. Also available - Eco Lens on Things training delivered as part of Climate Museum UK.
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consultancy services available on demand
Who is this for?
In a world of instant gratification, throwaway culture and short-attention spans, our capacity to think long term has been seriously altered. Yet by stretching our memories as far back as we can, we can find clues as to the best way to move forward, learning from our mistakes and retaining what was always great about humans.
This work is for you if you and/or your team are looking for meaning and clarity in these complex times. Using storytelling as a way to reach participants, each experience is tailor made for its intended audience.
I have worked extensively with both professionals and members of the public, be they volunteers, museum visitors or again young people.
Why work with me?
The Amateur Ancestor is born out of extensive research into climate science history, philosophy, economics, regenerative practice and design history amongst others. It is builds on the work of many, including the Long Time Project, Climate Museum UK, Moral Imaginations and the work of philosopher Roman Krznaric.
Justine holds an MA in Design History from the V&A/RCA and has never stopped learning and training since graduating in 2012. She recently completed a CPD course in Climate Change and Adaptation at Newcastle University, and an Indigenous Knoweldge System course with Dr Lyla June Johnston and 4D Regenerative Design Practice with Daniel Christian Wahl (both Gaia Foundation.)
Testimonials
Amateur Ancestor Tour London
Long Time interlude at Blue Futures Conference, photo Colin Davison
