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Dr Briony Widdis from the Centre for Public History at Queen’s University ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ commented: “Bridges to China shows that people are experts in their own histories. Rather than asking communities to fit into existing narratives, it changes how knowledge is created and shared. Participants have full authority over how their stories are told, showing how museums can move from interpreting cultures to hosting living accounts of why objects matter.” 

The work of the project was recently launched during an event at the Ulster Museum near the end of the two-week Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) period. During the launch event, a new short film capturing powerful and personal testimonies from members of the Chinese community was shown, with participants using objects to convey their relationships with heritage, belonging and identity.  

Alongside this, a new digital resource was launched, designed to deepen public engagement with the Chinese collections at National Museums NI. The resource brings together community-led stories and research, enabling audiences to explore key objects in greater depth and understand their relevance to living communities. 

Tríona White Hamilton, Curator of Modern History at National Museums NI stated: “The ‘Bridges to China’ project has helped National Museums NI develop deeper links with the Chinese community in Northern Ireland. The project has enabled us to build a rich and inclusive heritage resource to share, both locally and internationally, strengthening links between Northern Ireland and China. Our Chinese collection is now better understood through community storytelling and academic insights, and the project as a whole has benefitted our work with partners to be even more inclusive, sustainable and innovative.” 

Lili Li, from the Chinese Welfare Association said: "We received valuable guidance from experts and worked together to explore, discuss, and reimagine the meanings of the museum collections. Through the "Bridges to China" project, we were given the opportunity to share Chinese culture and narrate our own experiences. We felt that the voices of our Chinese community were heard and our perspectives were respected. At the same time, we realised the importance of passing our stories on to future generations. 

“Since the 1960s, Chinese immigrants have gradually settled in Northern Ireland, bringing with them rich experiences, memorable stories, and a valuable spiritual heritage. There is a growing sense of urgency to document these narratives—lest they fade away with time." 

Dr Emma Reisz from the Centre for Public History at Queen’s remarked: “This project shows the importance of communities taking a leading role in public history: people sharing their own stories, on their own terms, and shaping how their heritage is represented. The Chinese community in ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ has a long and deeply rooted history, and it has been a privilege to support those who contributed to the project in bringing their narratives to wider public attention. Their insights have transformed our understanding of local heritage, and the project demonstrates how museum collections can become active sites of connection, dialogue and shared understanding.”  

Michael Avila, Director of AvilaMedia commented: “What struck us most during this project was how powerful and personal these reflections are. Objects that might sit quietly in a museum case suddenly became stories of migration, family, resilience and belonging. Our role was not just to document, but to collaborate — to help ensure those voices were heard with care and reverence. Bridges to China is not simply about history, it is about presence. It recognises that the Chinese community is not a footnote in Northern Ireland’s story, but an integral part of it." 

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