Welcome to Future Lives and Austerity, an interactive digital exhibition exploring how austerity has shaped the future imaginaries of young people across Greater Manchester, Barcelona Province, and Sardinia. As part of the AALC research project, this exhibition brings together the voices of participants aged 18-35, capturing their reflections on how austerity has impacted their past, present, and future. The exhibition features interview fragments from twelve participants across these regions, providing a personal lens on their experiences.
Illustrated audio fragments from Oral Histories and Futures interviews, alongside biographical maps, stories to the future self, and postcards to the future, bring each story to life. The artistry of India Joseph integrates these elements, enhancing the depth and resonance of each narrative. To improve accessibility, transcripts of the interview extracts are available in English, Italian, and Spanish.
As you engage with the exhibition, you will encounter narratives that delve into how austerity has altered personal dreams, aspirations, and life paths. Amid the constraints of austerity, these stories weave together threads of uncertainty about the future with glimpses of hope. Many also shed light on the instability of housing, precarious work lives, and how these shape family decisions. This digital exhibition invites you to reflect on how austerity shapes both individual and collective futures, connecting local experiences to wider European patterns of economic hardship.
Set against the backdrop of austerity in Greater Manchester, the participant's narratives below reflect on their past and present, imagining themselves at different stages of life. They often address their future selves with wisdom gained through personal and societal challenges.
Themes such as the erosion public services, lack of government support, the widening gap between the rich and the poor, and the weight of financial insecurity echo throughout. Participants touch on mental health, societal exclusion, and the challenges of ageing in a world where opportunities are limited. Some stories express a longing for calm futures, imagining prospects that stand in stark contrast to the disruptions brought by austerity. There are also moments where solidarity and collective action play key roles in shaping future lives.
Despite increasing constraints, some participants resist the urge to internalise blame for their circumstances, instead directing their reflections towards the broader socio-political factors shaping their lives. These stories offer a poignant view into the lived experiences of austerity and how these struggles have shaped both individual futures and collective aspirations, encouraging us to reflect on the impact of economic and social policies on everyday lives and futures.
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Amid rising housing prices, precarious work, and difficulties of transitioning to independent living, young people in Barcelona contend with significant challenges that shape their outlook on the future. In the stories below, participants express a profound sense of uncertainty about the future, feeling torn between their aspirations and the harsh realities imposed by austerity.
The narratives describe a sense of downward mobility compared to their parents’ experiences, contributing to a pessimistic outlook that is exacerbated by the looming climate crisis. Despite a prevailing sense of discouragement and the belief that their hopes may go unfulfilled, participants also speak about yearning for security. Some envision a peaceful later life, picturing a future outside the confines of Barcelona
Concerns about environmental degradation intertwine with anxieties about job insecurity and rising living costs. Some participants foresee a future overshadowed by a crumbling reality, where essential resources are harder to access. Their reflections reveal a deep understanding of the interplay between aspiration and reality, as they navigate austerity and an uncertain future.
Under the shadow of austerity young Sardinians face overlapping challenges such as unemployment and housing unaffordability, which in turn impact family decisions. Through their stories, we gain insight into a landscape increasingly shaped by dwindling opportunities, compelling young people to seek prospects outside the island.
Participants reflect on the stark contrast between their childhood dreams of stability and the harsh realities of the present, facing a future fraught with instability. They express a profound longing for a secure life that promises family, a nurturing environment and simplicity. The stories show how many young Sardinians find themselves relying on multiple low-paying jobs to create a financial cushion in a precarious job market.
The narratives echo a common sentiment: a desire for a future that includes not just survival, but the possibility of joy and meaningful connections. They highlight the complex interplay of hope and uncertainty that defines the experiences of young people navigating the challenges of austerity in Sardinia today and into the future.
Designed by Santiago Leyva del Río | Illustrations by India Joseph
austerityalters@manchester.ac.uk