Encyclopedia of Us.

The Encyclopedia of Us is an annually released newspaper co-created with residents of the HU3 area of Hull. It is one manifestation of the Artist Investigator work I’ve been leading on in the area since 2018. Commissioned by Three Ways East this work utilises Asset Based Community Development approaches.

The Encyclopedia of Us aims to showcase the determination and skills of the community it serves, while also acknowledging the ongoing challenges. In many ways its a living archive and engine to help us see, imagine and act. It’s overriding ambition is to be dynamic where each issue reflects ideas that emerge through ongoing work. Designed by Paper Rhino and printed in an edition of four thousand, EofUs is distrubuted via community organisations, residents and contributors. Each issue also contains many invitations to act and get involved.

A recent review: “I think the value of the paper is that it’s an inside looking out thing rather than an outside looking in thing (it has this function too but I think that’s secondary). I think something George says in his article, in Issue 2, about his photos could also be applied to it and sums up its worth: ‘My photos are about celebrating people who are overlooked, or who don’t have a voice or will never have a voice.’

It connects people to their stories and situates them within their community (metaphorically and literally with the map on the back). I wonder if this offers solidarity – so many of the people featured are hardwired for struggle because of their life experiences but perhaps don’t know that others are too. They clearly feel proud and can acknowledge the amazing stuff that they are doing but I wonder if some feel that they are doing this in isolation? Reading others’ stories could shift them to a position of knowing that they are part of something bigger? There’s also something about people not just being seen but celebrated too. I also like that the stories are told in their words so they have more control over what’s being put out into the world. 

I think the paper also works as a connector (also genius to do some of this through bread). There’s clearly a huge amount of positive action being taken in the area but is it joined up? It’s not just allowing people to see themselves but to be seen by others with the same aspirations. This can only be a good thing and builds social capitol and shifts people to a position to be able to do more/struggle less because there’s the potential to link in with others.”

@eofushu3 extends this work online

Issue 2 was released in July 2022 and can be viewed HERE

Issue 1 was released in July 2021 and can be viewed HERE

A furth