About

Unlocked Archives brings together the contributions of a global community of people in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Working through collaboration and friendship, the stories gathered together here form a unique public collection - a continuously growing, living archive, documenting this historical moment.

Most contributors to this project identify as refugees, asylum seekers, migrants or stateless. Others are involved in asylum and refugee rights advocacy, community support organisations and/or research in this field.

The project explores how inequalities have been exacerbated by the crisis. The pandemic
has shaken political systems around the world, making structural racism, class inequality and other forms of oppression even more visible. These problems were already an everyday reality for marginalised people, but have been made worse by Covid-19.

Stories of resistance, love, animosity, birth and death, joy and grief, personal growth, mental illness, boredom, struggle and hope during the period of Covid-19 have been shared by individuals, children and families living in many different parts of the world – from Swansea, Wales to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Their stories take many forms, including artworks, testimonials, poetry, film and blogs in response to the realities of daily life, family relationships, home-schooling, sourcing food, play, environment, community, religion, spirituality and survival.

Unlocked Archives is a digital exhibition space of transnational encounter and community
engagement - from asylum support groups, to school children to youth groups.. It forms an integral part of a wider project, Covid Chronicles from the Margins. These sister projects have been developed by academics, community researchers, artists and activists building on and extending global networks of solidarity.

Each contributor has given permission to share their content with wider audiences as part of the project, and has actively participated in the development and design of its public presentation.

This website has been creatively produced by Ways of Working and Oliver Norcott.

Unlocked Archives is a digital exhibition space of transnational encounter and community
engagement - from asylum support groups, to school children to youth groups.. It forms an integral part of a wider project, Covid Chronicles from the Margins. These sister projects have been developed by academics, community researchers, artists and activists building on and extending global networks of solidarity.