Unlocking the vaults - student placement experience

As part of the MA History course, I had the privilege of taking a module titled ‘Public History and Heritage Placement’ where I supported the Public and Cultural Engagement Team at The Exchange on the Unlocking the Vaults project which explores the history and legacy of Birmingham Municipal Bank.

I had never worked on a heritage project as in depth as Unlocking the Vaults which consisted of three stages: research, engagement and interpretation. As The Exchange was once the head offices of Birmingham Municipal Bank, the project aimed to uncover its heritage whilst reflecting on financial resilience today within different communities. Its title is inspired by the safety deposit vaults located in the basement. The project began in November 2024 and I joined in February 2026 during the planning stages for its exhibition running from July to November.

I was tasked with preparing a section of the exhibition based on the community photography project titled ‘Thrift Radiates Happiness’ after one of the inscriptions on the inside of the old bank building. The photography project invited six community groups to workshops to develop their knowledge of local history of Birmingham Municipal Bank as well as the opportunity to use traditional photographic techniques to reflect on the building’s history and their own financial wellbeing to create art responding to their needs and interests.

As Unlocking the Vaults will have a temporary and a fixed interpretation, it was interesting to experience the team deciding how to display their research. I was invited to discussions regarding the displays the exhibition will have and able to share my thoughts. Writing about the community photography project and the six community groups gave me an insight to how exhibition text is written and produced. I also presented the photographs I think are important to display which improved my understanding of the steps needed to produce a successful exhibition.

Alongside this preparation, I was given the task to research a Second World War memorial plaque which was reinstated to the Assembly Room at The Exchange. I used genealogy skills, which I developed from a previous internship from my undergraduate degree in History from University of Birmingham, in addition to newspaper archives and the Birmingham Municipal Bank’s history website to learn more about the three members of staff who were commemorated on this plaque.

It was great to see The Exchange’s continuation to include original features of the building. My research was displayed in one of the corridors near the Vaults to invite members of the public to read and learn more about the bank’s impact and involvement in the Second World War.

The Public and Cultural Engagement team runs many events which invites members of the public to engage in activities regarding academic research. Unlocking the Vaults ran Explore Family Tours for families to tour and learn the history of the building. We gave children activity booklets in relation to the different areas of The Exchange we were touring. Parents and carers along with their children were able to uncover bank secrets and explore mysterious items to learn more about local history. I was involved in delivering these tours which gave me the opportunity to apply my knowledge of the headquarters of Birmingham Municipal Bank in a real-world setting.

The Public History and Heritage Placement module offered a variety of options to explore how history is practiced outside of academia. It was an amazing opportunity to enhance my knowledge on the university’s goal to connect the public with academic research, while getting hands-on, practical experience important for my career path after university.

Thank you to my placement supervisor Jane McArdle, the Public and Cultural Engagement team and my module convenor Dr Sarah Kenny for their support throughout this experience. It was a pleasure to work on this project and I look forward to continue to work with the project to see the exhibition come to life in July 2026.