The amateur ancestor project

What do you see when you look at an ammonite? What’s the link between a whale and a steam engine? Could there be such a thing as a precious plastic tile spacer?

The Amateur Ancestor project creates impactful experiences that harness the power of history and storytelling to expand our sense of time, so that we feel galvanised to better shape what will come next.

"Thought-provoking, emotional, impactful”

“A highlight of the year”

“A powerful, sensory experience”

“Engaging, insightful and eye opening

”Dedicated, detailed and incredibly engaging“

“Tackles huge, important subjects in a way that feels intimate”

"Thought-provoking, emotional, impactful” “A highlight of the year” “A powerful, sensory experience” “Engaging, insightful and eye opening ”Dedicated, detailed and incredibly engaging“ “Tackles huge, important subjects in a way that feels intimate”

Using historical research and systems thinking, the Amateur Ancestor project delves deep into the history of objects from the origins of time all the way to our emerging tomorrows.

Drawing from philosophy, earth sciences, design history, traditional indigenous wisdom and other sources, each experience evidences the deep connections that link us across time and place with realism and empathy.

Let’s work together

See the bigger picture: We create connections between natural, cultural, and industrial heritage to build a holistic picture of how we got to where we are.

Feel actively hopeful: We nurture active hope in tough times, finding our own courage in the work of ancestors who have made a positive difference to how we live today, often against all odds.

Download project PDF

Listen to Great North Museum recording

Commission an alternative tour of your museum collection or heritage site, which can be turnkey or developed collaboratively with staff and communities
Commission an Amateur Ancestor Participatory workshop for your event or conference, such as ‘The Story of the Whale and The Steam Engine,’ a creative workshop exploring multigenerational thinking and our relationship to our environment first performed at the Blue Futures Conference, The Word, South Tyneside, Nov 2023
Commission an Amateur Ancestor Story, a guided visualisation delving deep into the history of objects, to be recorded or performed to an audience, such as ‘A Golden Thread’, a empathetic and mind expanding time-travel piece about an Ancient Egyptian gold bracelet from the Great North Museum: Hancock, commissioned for the Great North Night, April 2024.
Run a staff training or team building day exploring your company’s values and mission in depth, and helping your team reconnect to their wider sense of purpose. Also available - Eco Lens on Things training delivered as part of Climate Museum UK.
consultancy services available on demand

Why here? Why now?

In a world of instant gratification, throwaway culture and short-attention spans, our capacity to think about the future has been seriously altered with devastating consequences. Facing growing pressure from the climate and biodiversity crises and increasingly polarised societies, it’s never been more essential to take a long view on what our trajectory has been so far, to deconstruct the systems that got us here. If we are to survive and thrive into the future, we need different stories about who we are. Stories that highlight the beauty of our interdependence and create longing for a different way of being.

By nurturing empathy for past, present and future generations, the Amateur Ancestor project aims to provide clarity, active hope and inspiration to do better by those who will come after us.

The Amateur Ancestor was awarded an Arts Council Develop Your Creative Practice Grant in 2022. It builds on the work of many, including the Long Time Project, Climate Museum UK, Moral Imaginations and the work of philosopher Roman Krznaric.

Testimonials

“The Amateur Ancestor Tour is a visceral reframing of the history we've been taught. For anyone working in the field of sustainable/regenerative design, this experience will zoom your perspective right out, and when you zoom back in again, you land in a very different understanding of the complex systems that we operate in and how we got here. Thanks Justine for a very thought-provoking, emotional and impactful experience.”

Nat Hunter, Regenerative Designer & Coach
“Justine’s thoughtful and well researched tour was eye opening and inspiring. She deftly reminded us of the role museums play in telling stories, helping us understand where we’ve come from, inviting us to take comfort in historic challenges that have been overcome, and galvanising us to think creatively about how to shape the future. […] A highlight of the year.”

Elise Foster Vander Elst, Head of Exhibitions, Design Museum London
“An eloquent orator, Justine delivered three, short interludes, navigating the room of participants through deep time to a personal commitment to take positive climate action. Her careful threading of connections from the ancient beginnings of early human settlements to the rise of the site’s industrial heritage and on to a hopeful, recuperating and sustainable future. The experiences proved to be a powerful, sensory experience that added significant value to the event.”

Dr Suzy O’Hara, Research Fellow and Lecturer, University of Sunderland
“Engaging Justine in this bespoke offer for British science week 2024 was a no brainer and an absolute pleasure. Her way of working is so dedicated, detailed and incredibly engaging, inspiring the visitors and myself in equal proportions! Such a great opportunity to think about and animate the museum and its collections in a different way, get teenagers curious and reflective, and always delivered with buckets of enthusiasm and warmth!”

Jo McSwaine, Assistant Learning Officer, Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums