Pam Hall's research explores art as a form of making and moving knowledge. Traditionally, science has been seen as the main and often the only source of knowledge in western society, and this research works to expand, deepen and make visible many others forms of knowledge that have been undervalued and consequently under-used. Hall's work begins with the assumption that everyone knows something interesting and important about where they live and how they live there.

The project is called Towards an Encyclopedia of Local Knowledge and its goal is to make that knowledge visible so it can be shared and used within and beyond the communities where it emerges. It includes participants ranging from school children to elders, who shared their own knowledge to be included in the Encyclopedia. Everyone who participated is acknowledged as a co-author.

Everyone has some expert knowledge and Towards an Encyclopedia of Local Knowledge gathers ecological, social, historical, technical, material and cultural knowledge from voluntary "experts" up and down the west coast of the province. It builds on, expands, and extends some of the community-specific knowledge that already exists and makes it visible, alongside new knowledge - so it can be shared and presented - honoured and celebrated.

This work was completed as part of Hall's PhD research and creation. The research was funded by Barbara Neis Trudeau Foundation Fellowship and a SSHRC doctoral fellowship.

Researchers and Partners

Encyclopedia Launch at Memorial University

Full Encyclopedia Content

In the News

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