dBs Pro partners with Libraries Unlimited on Heritage Fund project in Bideford

dBs Pro will help bring a historic book collection to life through creative technology as part of Bideford Retold, a new community heritage project supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

dBs Pro, the in-house creative studio at dBs Institute, has partnered with Libraries Unlimited to deliver Bideford Retold, a 12-month project that will revitalise the Chope Collection held at Bideford Library in North Devon.

The collection, a regionally significant archive of around 500 books, was bequeathed to the people of Bideford by local historian and folklorist Richard Pearse Chope. His passion for North Devon was captured in a favourite line by Hilaire Belloc: "One's native place is the shell of one's soul." Bideford Retold takes that sentiment forward for a new generation.

Rachel Tettersel, Supervisor for Bideford Library, with one of the many important books from the historic Chope Collection

Made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players, and The Bideford Bridge Trust, the project is led by Libraries Unlimited in partnership with dBs Pro. It will also collaborate with Space Youth Services, Bideford College, and Plymouth University, working together to empower young people aged 12 to 21 to discover and reinterpret their local heritage.

As part of the project, dBs Pro will develop an inclusive digital experience within Bideford Library, using creative technology to bring the collection to life in immersive and unexpected ways. Designed with and for young people aged 11 to 21, the interactive space will allow new audiences to encounter local stories beyond the page, leaving a lasting legacy in the library.

The project will also create opportunities for dBs Institute students to gain hands-on experience and contribute to delivery through a mix of placements and paid roles.

Jay Auborn, Head of Creative of dBs Pro, said: “We are over the moon to have received support from the National Lottery to make this project a reality. Over the past few years, we’ve been developing a model for projects like this, embedding opportunities for new talent and local communities through co-creation, and this funding is a strong endorsement that this approach can deliver real impact.

“Working closely with Bideford Library, we’ll share our expertise in co-creation, youth engagement and creative production with local communities and partners, including Bideford College and SPACE. Together, we want to ensure Chope’s legacy creates meaningful opportunities for young people in the area to reconnect with and celebrate their heritage.

“Over 12 months, we’ll deliver a programme shaped and driven by local young people, giving them the chance to share ideas and influence the direction of the work from the outset. Along the way, we’ll bring in creative practitioners and advisors to show how history and local knowledge can spark new and original creative work. By connecting heritage with contemporary creative practice, the project will help build a stronger regional pipeline for creative talent, opening up new ways for young people to imagine futures within the cultural and creative industries.

“The project will also create opportunities for dBs students to gain hands-on experience through a mix of placements and paid roles. Projects like this allow us to demonstrate what dBs is all about, empowering people to use creativity to drive positive change.”

Bideford Retold aims to breathe new life into the collection through new displays, interpretation panels and an inclusive, co-created digital experience. It also aims to increase the number of young people engaging with Bideford Library, generating insights into how libraries can remain relevant to their lives. Its legacy will be a relaunched collection as a vibrant community asset, plus a toolkit offering a repeatable model for youth engagement across Libraries Unlimited.

dBs Pro has a strong track record in creating immersive, technology-driven heritage experiences. Recent projects include Voices From The Courts, an interactive heritage experience developed for Creative Youth Network at Bristol's Old Magistrates Court, and collaborations spanning VR, spatial audio, AR and interactive media.

About dBs Pro

dBs Pro is our in-house creative studio, where students get to work on commercial projects with real clients.

Students from all our campuses get regular opportunities to work on commercial recording and creative audio projects that give them the chance to both contribute and observe industry practice. Recent projects include producing live music performances for BBC Springwatch (watched by 1.8 million viewers), working on Innovate UK-funded AI research alongside Channel 4 and Aardman, mixing commercially released albums, creating immersive VR audio experiences, and producing podcasts which have reached international audiences in their millions.Students have also worked on location recording for documentary films, spatial audio for heritage apps, and post-production in surround sound for cinema releases.

About The National Lottery Heritage Fund 

Our vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future. That’s why as the largest funder for the UK’s heritage we are dedicated to supporting projects that connect people and communities to heritage, as set out in our strategic plan, Heritage 2033 . Heritage can be anything from the past that people value and want to pass on to future generations. We believe in the power of heritage to ignite the imagination, offer joy and inspiration, and to build pride in place and connection to the past.

Over the next 10 years, we aim to invest £3.6billion raised for good causes by National Lottery players to make a decisive difference for people, places and communities.