Mark 01 — The Work
He marks the way. Now he can mark it for you.
Norman Bailey FRSA spent two decades turning Caribbean and Black British history into theatre, exhibitions, and a permanent archive. He worked with the BBC, Tate Modern, and the Old Vic, and taught at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. He's increasingly hearing from other people and projects doing similar work, and this page is for them.
Mark 02 — Why This Matters
Institutions trusted him with their history. Now communities can too.
Most archives are built by institutions, for institutions. Norman's approach inverts that — giving the people whose stories these are the tools, training, and confidence to record and shape their own history, rather than handing it over to someone else.
That approach is what built Pathfinders. It's the same approach he brings when he works alongside other heritage projects, cultural organisations, and community groups who want to do meaningful, ethical archival work — but need someone who has already done it, and done it well.
Mark 03 — Where Our Paths Might Cross
An open door
If you're keen to turn testimony into something lasting, Norman brings a genuine interest in helping other people and projects do the same. Seek him out for:
An invitation to speak — a talk or workshop for a festival, university, or institution working on community archiving or oral history.
Mentoring — a storyteller, archivist, or community leader working through a project of their own who wants a sounding board.
An advisory role — an organisation building a community archive who'd value a second pair of eyes on project design or partnership strategy.
If something here resonates, the best next step is simply to say so — there's no application, no package to choose from.
Mark 04 — The Credentials
Work that speaks for itself
BBC Disney Cameron Mackintosh
Tate Modern Birmingham Rep Hackney Empire
The Old Vic BFI Guest Lecturer, Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.
Conway Storyteller, the Courtauld Institute of Art. Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA). Artistic Director, Seven Winds CIC.
Mark 05 — Begin
If any of this sounds like your project, say hello
There's no form to fill in beyond a message. Tell Norman a little about what you're working on, or what you're hoping to learn — he reads these himself.
or fill this in if preferrable!