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 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 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

In Episode 3 of Whose Power? Preservative Party members Bobby and Rahesa put Professor Abigail Harrison Moore in the hot seat to ask what she has learned about participatory research through her involvement with the group.

Together they discuss how and why Abigail wanted to work with them, what she has done to gain their trust and buy-in to the project and what she’s learned about her work and the role of participatory research in engaging and empowering young people.

• Read a full transcript of the episode

Episode credits

Presenters: Bobby and Rahesa, Preservative Party

Guest: Abigail Harrison Moore, University of Leeds

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

CONTENT WARNING: Please note this episode includes conversations about experiences of homelessness

In Episode 2 of Whose Power? we find out what the Preservative Party means to members Bobby and Rahesa and what they have learned about the power of participating in research from the Whose Power project.

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.

Bobby tells Abigail why they thought twice about getting involved and what they think academics need to think more carefully about when looking to engage with young people. And Rahesa talks about the struggles they have faced in their education and how the Preservative Party has given them the confidence to speak and be heard.

• Read a full transcript of the episode

Episode credits

Presenter: Abigail Harrison Moore, University of Leeds

Guests: Bobby and Rahesa, 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 with Krissie Brighty-Glover, Research Podcasts

Photography: Andrew Lord

In Episode 1 of Whose Power? we find out how and why Professor Abigail Harrison Moore from the University of Leeds started researching histories of women and energy in the home with an inspiring group of young curators based at Leeds City Museum.

Abigail is joined by Esther Amis-Hughes, Community Engagement Manager at Leeds City Museum who set up the Preservative Party 13 years ago. She's also joined by Youth Engagement Curator Jordan Keighley, an original member of the group, now its facilitator.

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.

Further reading

• Read a full transcript of the episode

• Empowering Women; Co-producing Histories of Women and Energy in the Home (AHRC funding page)

• Open minds with the Preservative Party (Blog)

Episode credits

Presenter: Abigail Harrison Moore, University of Leeds

Guests: Jordan Keighley and Esther Amis-Hughes, Leeds City Museum

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 with Krissie Brighty-Glover, Research Podcasts

Photography: Andrew Lord

Whose Power? is a podcast that explores the power of participation and seeks to amplify the voices of young people to create new knowledge and understanding.

The podcast is a collaboration between Abigail Harrison Moore from the University of Leeds and The Preservative Party, a group of young curators at Leeds City Museum who empower young people to break down traditional barriers and influence the way museum exhibitions and events are curated and presented. Together they’ve been exploring how participation can help us better understand power, who has it, and how it’s used in different settings. Listen to Abigail explain what you can expect from this inspiring podcast series! Episode 1 drops July 11.

• Read a transcript of the series trailer

Series credits

Presenter: Abigail Harrison Moore, University of Leeds

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 with Krissie Brighty-Glover, Research Podcasts

Photography: Andy Lord Photography