This output represents a six-year research enquiry by Nicky Bird, comprising three photographic-based projects - Heritage Site (2014-2016), Travelling the Archive (2015-2016), and Ghosting the Castle (2017) - and a book chapter. The research resides in Bird’s process of collaborative investigation of vernacular photographic archives and, through community engagement, the visualization of latent histories associated with those communities. Her research investigates how vernacular photographs, from the recent past and their relationship to a present-day landscape, reveal the cultural phenomenon of intangible forms of heritage within ‘fragile’ communities.

Bird conducted research in three Scottish villages with socio-economic challenges. Key external partners were: three arts commissioners, two archives, three local history and heritage groups, and one community advocate. Each project involved close collaboration with community members (total: 124 participants). This output was disseminated through exhibitions, festivals, community-led events and talks (total audience: 49,803).

Bird’s research contributes to the fields of arts and heritage, cultural memory and photography, demonstrating the significance of community memories and narratives that respond to specific vernacular photographs and remnants in the local landscape. Her research connects heritage discourses (Raphael Samuel, Stuart Jeffrey) with those of vernacular photography and critiques of artistic appropriation (Geoffrey Batchen, Martha Langford). In this inquiry, such photographs retain their indexical link to ‘lives lived’ (Langford, 2008). Bird’s on-location methodology builds upon the work of Langford and Annette Kuhn to reveal intangible forms of heritage as expressed by community members, which leads to the creative outputs e.g. the multi-media installation for Heritage Site (2014-2016); multiple large-scale outdoor projections for Travelling the Archive (2015-2016); and a foldout art map for Ghosting the Castle (2017).