Research and Consultation for Our Community Enterprise supporting the internationally significant Cookham Excavations
We worked with Our Community Enterprise (OCE) to research and consult with visitors about their experiences at the excavations. OCE was leading this work on behalf of Friends of Cookham Abbey (FCA) and the University of Reading. Our role was to help gather feedback from the public, volunteers, and stakeholders to understand what people took away from their visits and how the project engaged the community.
Our approach included visiting the excavation site to speak with visitors, volunteers, and students. We also supported an online survey, shared through FCA and the University of Reading. One-on-one conversations with visitors, event organisers, and local partners provided further insights.
In the second year, OCE’s part-time team member led the fieldwork, keeping the connection with the community strong. We also helped develop tools to collect feedback from public events and activities. Our findings were shared in a final report, helping OCE and its partners plan future community engagement and ensure that more people can experience and learn from this important archaeological project.
As part of the research, we also supported market research for a potential virtual reality (VR) experience based on the excavations. The findings will help inform future decisions on how VR and digital platforms can be used to expand access to the excavations beyond those able to visit in person.
We also worked with OCE to support visual artist Phyllida Shelley, the project’s artist-in-residence, in consulting with visitors and using insights to inform her creative practice. Phyllida responded to the excavations by producing on-site drawings, prints, and rubbings inspired by the dig, offering visitors a new way to interpret the site through visual art. She also led Creative Connections mindfulness art sessions, where visitors engaged in meditative art-making linked to the excavations.
The insights from this feedback helped demonstrate the value of integrating artistic practice into archaeological projects.
Visit the Friends of Cookham Abbey website here to find out more and to visit the site. Visit Our Community Enterprise for community fundraising and support needs.
(Picture source/credits: University of Reading and Friends of Cookham Abbey News Releases).
