StoryLands: A New Digital Archive Exploring Identity, Objects and Migration
Alwaleed Philanthropies (Global), chaired by HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal, is proud to announce the launch of StoryLands, a new digital archive that explores identity, belonging, and cultural heritage through personal objects. Created within the Alwaleed Cultural Network and developed in close collaboration with Turquoise Mountain and Multaka Oxford.
The platform’s first collection presents 13 stories contributed by individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds. Each story highlights an object of personal significance, offering insight into how memory, movement, and material culture shape one’s sense of self.
Each object in the archive is paired with a narrative in the contributor’s own voice and language, accompanied by images and sound. Contributors shaped how their stories and objects were shared, ensuring their experiences and perspectives remained at the heart of the archive.
"At Alwaleed Philanthropies, we believe in the strength of shared humanity, and through StoryLands, we celebrate the voices that preserve identity, spark dialogue and deepen our collective understanding of belonging in a world shaped by movement and connection. As part of the Alwaleed Cultural Network, this initiative reflects our ongoing commitment to bridging cultures, empowering communities, and honoring the personal stories that sustain our global heritage.” said HRH Princes Lamia bint Majed AlSaud, Secretary General at Alwaleed Philanthropies.
“We are deeply grateful to everyone who contributed to this collection, which spans many fascinating cultures and traditions. StoryLands is a compelling way to explore the emotional, intellectual, spiritual, and social connections people have to objects,” said Dr Thalia Kennedy, Global Creative Director at Turquoise Mountain.
“This is collection of very personal stories,” said Nicola Bird, Project Manager and Volunteer Coordinator at MultakaOxford. “Each contributor guided how their object and story would be presented, bringing their own perspective on the experiences that have shaped their sense of self.”
Tom Lea at the Alwaleed Cultural Network said: “Part of our mission is to create a more inclusive and connected world, and celebrating the beauty of diverse voices through objects is an excellent way to do that.”
StoryLands will continue to evolve through contributions from communities worldwide, creating a living archive of cultural memory, identity, and shared belonging.
