We are Creative technologists who work with Arts, Heritage & Cultural organisations to produce wonderful things that change people’s lives

The team at Meeja has been producing Web-based solutions for as long as the Web has existed

Take confidence in knowing that we provide the right solution for your project, no matter what it is

Our preference is to work with organisations that improve people’s lives

The Brief

A £2.3m grant from Arts Council England has enabled a disused department store in Ryde, Isle of Wight to be converted into a vibrant centre for arts and culture.

The team behind the project, the Internationally-renowned ShadeMakers, felt it was important to capture the Oral History of that building – to honour the people  – those that worked there and the shoppers – that made this department store a cornerstone of Island life – to keep the connection with the community.

Meeja was selected and entrusted with carrying out the Oral History interviews, making those recordings accessible to the public, now and in the future.

Our Solution

We wanted to represent as many of those who were connected with Elizabeth Pack in some way – those that worked in the shop; carried out maintenance; ran the cafe; built their carnival floats; took part in their legendary fashion shows; shopped there and benefitted from the second-to-none Bridal service.
Through public engagement sessions, we did this by placing ourselves at the heart of the community in the popular local library to find and speak to as many people as we could.
Collaborated with a range of other Isle of Wight creatives in as many ways as possible.

We worked with local history societies to access their historic photos archives.

Interviews were carried out to the Oral History Society protocol. We then selected informative and entertaining gems from the interviews and created easily-accessible 1-2 min audio clips, giving visitors an easy way in to explore the topics, as well as the full length recordings.

Using our Oral History delivery Website engine, we built a custom look for the site that reflects the colours used within the building and called on the heritage by referencing the building design and the audio cassette tapes of the time.

Delivered: 

• Heritage-styled Website holding over 150 audio clips, 200 photographs, including many that have never been seen before. Custom portrait-driven profiles of those who took part.
• A list of the transcribed audio clips for use as source material for the playwright.
• Deliver a range of audio clips used around the building, in rooms, lifts, etc to remind visitors to the building of its history.
• Lodge with the OHS-defined bundle with the Wessex Film and Sound Archive for future generations.
• People have been taken aback at the quality of the system – many and varied compliments including phrases like ‘cinematic’ and successfully bringing the history of the building to life.

Visit Packs’ People

The Brief

Launch the Isle of Wight’s Cultural Development Agency and develop the branding to establish the organisation as a serious force for change on the Island.

They came to Meeja to create the branding, launch assets and Website.

Our Solution

Working with the Executive director, we developed the branding for Creative Island, to convey reliability, while referencing creative roots.

Proposed and shot the organisation’s launch video at Ingram’s Yard as an important first contact with the new organisation.

Developed and delivered an image-driven Website, structured to enable future expansion.

Delivered: Branding and guidelines; Launch video; Vibrant developing Website

Visit Creative Island

The Brief

Gosport Town Council wanted to use Oral History to honour the Submarine Service that used to be based in the town. By using some High Street Heritage Action Zone (HAZ) funding, they wanted to help Gosport build pride in their town by understanding what a significant contribution it has made to the safety and security of the UK.

Our Solution

We believe Oral Histories hold the power to capture people’s history, directly enabling people to connect with those telling their stories, now and into the future

We wanted to give the public an easy way to understand the unusual life of submariners – something previously hidden. Multiple in-depth interviews were conducted, transcribed, and then transformed into over 400 2-3 minute audio snippets

Working with the Submariners’ Association we ensured key roles on-board a submarine were represented – all ratings and ranks; currently-serving female submariner; a submariner’s wife, telling her side of being married to one; even the recently-ex Head of the Submarine service

Official portraits were commissioned (shot with the Royal Navy’s (RN) first 1901 submarine as backdrop) and historic photos gathered from local and the Submarine Museum national archives, as well as never-before seen photos of life on board from submariners

The official @RoyalNavy social media accounts highlighted the project, which we took as a stamp of approval

Delivered: We built the Website; filled it with fascinating audio: Full length interviews and 400 2-3 minute audio snippets; an amazing collection of photos; worked with Comms to promote the launch; Delivered it into an official archive. A permanent exhibition at the Submarine Museum, via a 6ft video plinth

Visit Submariners’ Stories

The Brief

To engage the Isle of Wight creative community to provide a membership-driven online training resource, including video, to guide and support them develop their creative practices

Our Solution

A self-servicing paid membership system that enables members to access pay-wall restricted content that guides them on how to develop their creative practices, through video and other online resources

Each member can create their own profile in the artists’ directory to outline their experience and build a gallery to showcase their work

The publishing platform enables the project leader to easily communicate to the public and the different groups of members

Delivered: An integrated publishing, membership and directory solution

Visit IW Creative Network

The Brief

Get young people engaged with a range of opportunities in the creative industries

Our Solution

Collaborating with Ventnor Exchange and designed to appeal to the Instagram-generation, the custom built Web platform enables young people to sign up and create their own profiles

The Exchange uses the publishing system to enter the many opportunities, which the young people can then seamlessly apply for with project specific applications

Administration of the applications is all carried out within the system

Delivered: An impactful and simple to use Website that disguises a lot of complex features

Visit Brave Island

The Brief

To make the fascinating Oral Histories of retired Isle of Wight farmers as accessible as possible

Our Solution

We took hours of Oral History recordings, splitting them into easy to access, short audio snippets, organised into themes. Combining professionally shot portraits, personal photo collections with those of the local heritage service. Praised by all who saw it

Delivered: Easy to use data-driven Website, Amazon Alexa voice App, Extensive media launch

Visit Farming Memories

The Brief

Raise the awareness of the Isle of Wight’s rich museum heritage and increase visitor numbers

Our Solution

For this collaborative project we told the story of the people of the Island ‘From the Dinosaur Age to the Facebook Era’

Over six months of exposure, it gained large popularity on the Isle of Wight – reaching the goal – increased number of locals visiting the museums

Delivered: Website; exhibition; travelling museum; school outreach; series of talks; public engagement; a comprehensive media launch

Visit Isle of Wight Hidden Heroes