In this second series of Whose Power? Abigail is joined by Preservative Party members Lauren, Rahesa and Tae, who together with other members of the group have been exploring the nature of power and how participatory research can bring about new knowledge and understanding.

They're talking about how we create and maintain safe spaces, amplify the voices of those least listened to, and what real collaboration looks like. By sharing the stories, insights and opinions of members, and the people they've worked, they hope to shed light on the power of trust, what it is to work collectively, how we create change and the power of the podcast as a medium and space to do meaningful participatory research.

Episode one drops June 4th.

• This project has been supported with funding from the Research England Participatory Research Fund 2024-25

In Episode 5 of Whose Power? we are in conversation with Preservative Party mentors Lauren and Grace.

Together they discuss how the group is working to empower young people to break down traditional barriers to influence and drive the way museum exhibitions are curated and presented, what participating in academic research means to them, what barriers and challenges they have faced along the way, and how they have helped to create new knowledge and bring about meaningful change in the sector with and for the young people they support.

Grace talks about why there needs to be wholesale change in academia and museums to create the space for young people’s voices to be shared and heard. And Lauren explains how the Preservative Party has helped them develop the confidence to pursue their own academic career.

• Read a full transcript of the episode

Episode credits

Presenter: Abigail Harrison Moore, University of Leeds

Guests: Grace and Lauren, Preservative Party

Producer: Chris Garrington, Research Podcasts

Studio and sound: Kerr Hunter and Alex Neish, Helix, University of Leeds

Music: Aura, by Tae, Preservative Party

Artwork and graphics: Preservative Party, Krissie Brighty-Glover, Research Podcasts

Photography: Andrew Lord

In Episode 4 of Whose Power? we find out how Preservative Party member Tae came to participate in the Whose Power project.

They discuss how the group is working to empower young people to break down traditional barriers to influence and drive the way museum exhibitions are curated and presented, what participating in academic research means to them, what barriers and challenges they have faced along the way, and how they have helped to create new knowledge and bring about meaningful change in the sector with and for the young people they support.

Tae tells Abigail about why and how they questioned the original research plan in order to produce new questions that represented everyone in the Preservative Party and what inspired them to create the theme music for the Whose Power podcast.

Further information

• Access and download a full transcript of the episode

Episode credits

Presenter: Abigail Harrison Moore, University of Leeds

Guests: Tae, Preservative Party

Producer: Christine Garrington, Research Podcasts

Music: Tae, Preservative Party

Artwork and Audiograms Preservative Party and Krissie Brighty-Glover, Research Podcasts