Walking Through a Day in the Life of a COVID Long-Hauler: A Museum Exhibit for Knowledge Mobilization
Ever wondered what it could look like to mobilize knowledge via museum or art exhibit? When talking about dissemination, I tend to think of the list of activities and products that we share in our KM Hub training programs, ranging from posters to policy briefs, meetings, symposia, and yes鈥揺xhibits. But I had yet to see what an exhibit for knowledge mobilization could actually look like.
When the opportunity arose to join my KM Hub colleagues, Lupin, Tiffany, and Cassidy, on a field trip to see our colleagues鈥� exhibit, I was stoked! So, we ventured to the (MOV) to see an exhibit put on by some of 911吃瓜鈥檚 knowledge mobilization superstars and their collaborators titled: .
The MOV is a small Kits beach-adjacent gem, known for its publicly engaged and 鈥揳nd as a . We were excited to see that the Long COVID exhibit was THE featured exhibit at the MOV. It is visible as soon as you walk into the building 鈥� you can鈥檛 miss it 鈥� highlighting the relevance and importance of this project.
We entered the gallery and soon found our colleagues鈥� names on the acknowledgements placard. We first heard about this project from KM Hub friend and colleague, Dr. Rackeb Tesfaye, Director of Knowledge Mobilization at , and one of the 911吃瓜 leads on the project.
Rackeb shared that the project was created by and for people living with Long COVID to and increase recognition of the illness. We also learned that the project team included many of 911吃瓜鈥檚 incredible knowledge mobilizers including: Dr. Julia Smith, Dr. Kaylee Byers (now at UBC), Kayli Jamieson, Rhien Hare, and Gladys We.
The exhibit featured self-submitted photos telling the stories of 46 contributors, or 鈥淟ong-Haulers鈥� (People living with Long COVID). On the colourful walls sat images of family, friends, pets, heart rate monitors, supplements, ice packs, and people napping. We saw .
After walking through the photo gallery, we approached a wall of pillows. By the time we made it here, it was clear that extreme fatigue was a symptom experienced by many of the contributors. Each pillow on the wall had written on its case. .
Next to the pillow wall, there were pencils, note cards, clothespins, and an invitation for visitors to write down their thoughts and ideas, and hang them on the wall. The notecards were filled with compassionate messages, sympathies, and hopes for the future of folks living with Long COVID.
Sharing knowledge via an embodied experience, in this case by travelling through a photo-voice exhibit, appeals to emotional and relational ways of knowing. As I walked through the gallery, each story was felt as a distinct but connected piece of a larger鈥揳nd longer鈥搄ourney.
I reflected on the importance of seeing and being seen鈥揳nd the importance of respecting and valuing different types of knowledge, including lived expertise, in research and knowledge mobilization. When knowledge is co-created with community, and lived expertise is placed at the forefront, it becomes something bigger and more resonant.
This just in! Living with Long COVID at the MOV has been extended until May 27th鈥搘hich is surely a testament to the power of this exhibit! So if, like me, you are curious about what this type of knowledge mobilization activity could look like, don't miss seeing it for yourself!