Our Shared Cultural Heritage (OSCH) is a UK-based initiative to test and evaluate new, sustainable models for heritage organisations to better engage young people with cultural heritage, their organisations and opportunities. The project is led by British Council, working in partnership with Glasgow Life, Manchester Museums and Galleries Partnership, and UK Youth. It is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund’s Kick the Dust programme for youth-focused projects that transform how heritage organisations engage with young people aged 11-25 in the UK and in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan.

In Bangladesh, in partnership with CCD Bangladesh, Uronto Artist Community, and Varendra Research Museum, we are working with a youth group of 18-25-year olds to create new ways for museums and the youths to work together in the heritage sector.

This youth-led project aims to:

  • Enable museums and youth and heritage organisations to become better places for young people to explore identity and connect with others
  • Change how museums and heritage organisations engage with and represent South Asian heritage 
  • Open up new opportunities for young people

The first year of OSCH Bangladesh project have been completed in Rajshahi, with a Youth Board consisting of 30 young people. Activities include training on museum-based research, photography and videography, mobile filmmaking, storytelling, zine making, website and web-based exhibition creation and VR making along with visits and documentation of heritage sites in Rajshahi.

Find out more about Our Shared Cultural Heritage on its dedicated website.