Explore: Delve into The People’s History Museum’s online activities ft. sing-a-long workshops, vital voters, film & object archive & more

As one of the venue’s most popular events for babies, toddlers, tots and parents – My First Protest Song invites singer-songwriter Matt Hill to grab his guitar and get audiences’ musical juices flowing with a toe-tapping workshop that’s jam-packed with protest songs. This digital event is free to view and will take place on multiple dates across the next few weeks including Thursday 7 May, Thursday 4 June, Thursday 2 July and Saturday 1 August.

Created by the People’s History Museum team, Vital Voters is an immersive digital experience that invites young viewers to open their minds to the history, present and future of democracy. Audiences will be encouraged to make their own short film on the subject, with free guidance and advice on exactly how to create your project provided on the Vital Voters webpage. The best submitted films will be added to the site’s campaign gallery.

With 2020 marking the 10th anniversary of the People’s History Museum being in its current Spinningfield home, the team behind the venue have selected 10 key objects from its extensive collection to showcase online. The venue holds the largest collection of material illustrating the history of democracy in Britain, with objects spanning banners, badges, posters, artwork, cartoons, placards and personal items each with colourful stories and rich histories. Head to the People’s History Museum site to explore the team’s top 10 picks.

Filmmaker Steven Fielding has made a series of short films exploring a handful of items housed in the People’s History Museum collection of political memorabilia, election materials and iconic historical objects. Fielding is also Professor of Political History at the University of Nottingham and aims to detail both the historical relevance of items alongside their cultural relevance to the world we find ourselves in today.

Those looking for something a little more in-depth can take part in a four-week online course that spans all aspects of democracy throughout the ages. Peterloo To the Pankhursts: Radicalism and Reform in the 19th Century uses original artefacts and objects, bespoke animations and illustrations, compelling historical testimonies and speeches and sessions led by industry experts and historians to offer an accessible look at the formation of modern democracy. The course is hosted on FutureLearn and will last four weeks, with five hours of weekly study required each week.