If Walls Could Talk was developed in collaboration with people, community groups, and organisations across Leeds. We are especially grateful to Dr Rob Knifton from the University of Leeds, and Jocelyn Anderson-Wood and the team at Harewood House, for their generous support throughout the project.
Thanks also to community group leaders Huazhu Liu and Bei Gao, support artist Cassy Oliphant, community group volunteers, and MA students Lesley, Ssu, Sarah, Poe, Xiyu, Chenfei, Angela, and Dina, from the School of Fine Art, History of Art, and Cultural Studies, whose involvement ensured the successful delivery of the workshops.
We would like to thank our academic collaborators, including Dr Helen Graham and Dr Jo Williams for facilitating the Visiting Research Fellowship, and Layla Bloom, Laura Wilson,
Mark Westgarth, and Rhiannon Lawrence-Francis for hosting and access to the Treasures of the Brotherton Gallery and the Part of the Furniture exhibition. We are grateful to symposium speakers and performers Xiaofan Zhang, Sève Favre, Amy Junker Heslip, and Man Chiu Leung for contributing to the public programme, and to members of the Wallpaper History Society, Rowena Beighton-Dykes, Wendy Mason, Dr Zoë Hendon, and Eleanor Brooke-Peat, who have supported the project through funding, promotion, and introductions to new collaborators.
Finally, a huge thank you to all the members of Lychee Red Chinese Seniors, Hongkongers, and Leeds Chinese Community School, who generously shared their creativity, ideas, and feedback. If Walls Could Talk was made possible with funding from Arts Council England, Leeds Cultural Investment Programme, and the Wallpaper History Society.
Harewood House Trust is an independent charitable trust responsible for the care, interpretation, and public engagement of Harewood House, its collections, and landscape. Through exhibitions, learning programmes, and artist-led projects, the Trust works to open up conversations with diverse communities and reimagine what historic spaces can mean today.
The School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies at the University of Leeds brings together practice-based, historical, and critical approaches to the study of art, heritage, and visual culture. The Visiting Research Fellow programme provides a framework for researchers to pursue independent projects while contributing to the School’s wider intellectual and creative environment.
Cassy Oliphant is a Leeds-based artist of Singaporean-Chinese heritage with a background in painting, illustration, and community arts. She supported the lead artist in delivering creative workshops, including collage, digital photography, and 3D scanning, and helping participants respond to the historic Chinese wallpaper at Harewood House through personal and cultural reflection.
Lychee Red Chinese Seniors is a Leeds-based group supporting Chinese elders experiencing social isolation. Hosted in partnership with Health for All and Time to Shine, the group provides weekly social activities, meals, cultural outings, and language-support, creating a welcoming space for older community members in the city.
The Hongkongers community group offers mutual support and connection for newly arrived Hongkongers in Leeds. It provides regular events, social gatherings, and activities led by staff with relevant language skills and cultural understanding, to help build a sense of belonging and ease the transition to life in the UK.
Established in 1966, Leeds Chinese Community School is a supplementary school offering weekend classes in Mandarin and Cantonese, calligraphy, and dance, and organising events including the annual Spring Festival. Operated entirely by volunteers, the school serves all ages in Leeds, supporting language, culture, and community education.
The National Lottery Project Grants programme by Arts Council England is a rolling open-access fund allocating £1000–£100,000 to individual practitioners and organisations across England. It currently includes Unlocking Collections as a Time Limited Priority, enabling museums to reinterpret their collections in new ways.
Leeds Cultural Investment Programme is funded through Leeds City Council’s cultural grants budget and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to support a vibrant, inclusive and sustainable cultural sector across the city. Their Grow: Project grants support one-off projects that push creative boundaries and deliver lasting cultural impact.
The Wallpaper History Society offers a bursary of up to £1500 each year to support historical and cultural research and/or developments in period wallcoverings. The bursary prize is offered in memory of Merryl Huxtable, a founder member of the WHS and pioneer in the field of wallpaper conservation.
