AN EXHIBITION created by young people about the history of their neighbourhood, has been opened by a BAFTA award-winning director. Kilburn Kultures, the result of a year-long project created by 13 to 25-year-olds at the Granville Plus Youth Arts Centre i

AN EXHIBITION created by young people about the history of their neighbourhood, has been opened by a BAFTA award-winning director.

Kilburn Kultures, the result of a year-long project created by 13 to 25-year-olds at the Granville Plus Youth Arts Centre in Granville Road, south Kilburn, was opened today (Thursday) by television director, Alrick Riley at the Brent Museum and Brent Archives.

The exhibition, which includes a book and film premiered at the British Film Institute in November, explores what it is like to be young in south Kilburn today and how the area has changed since 1910.

Selina Ashraf, 22, one of the young film-makers taking part in the project, said: "The film is about ordinary people, with extraordinary stories to tell.

"They are really the unheard heroes that bring our community together and shape our history."

The exhibition, supported by Brent Youth Service and partly funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, includes photography, creative writing, archival research and curating, while the film features residents speaking about their experiences of growing up in the area over the last six decades.

Kilburn Kultures project co-ordinator, Amanda Davis, said: "Unless you have grown up or lived in an area for many years, its history, its heritage and what life was like for people who lived there before, may be very unfamiliar.

"By learning about the cultural heritage of their neighbourhood through the experiences of another generation, this project has ignited a deep sense of belonging and identity among a community of young people, proud to live in south Kilburn."

Kilburn Kultures will run at the Brent Museum and Brent Archives in the Willesden Green Library Centre in High Road, Willesden Green, until September and then travel to other venues in the borough. The book, film and a DVD will be used as an educational resource for schools and community projects.

Cllr Paul Lorber, Brent Council leader said: "This is a timely exhibition about an area of Brent which will see great change over the next few years.

"I would encourage everyone to go along and learn more about Kilburn's history."

sofia.mitra-thakur@archant.co.uk