The People’s Archive is set in an abandoned Lace Market in Nottingham in 2086, where widening wealth gaps and authoritarian government control have caused manufacturing towns to decay. Creativity is heavily restricted, with only government-approved activities permitted.

In response, a rebel group known as The Foragers uses craft and communal making as acts of resistance. Operating from a derelict car park, they recover abandoned objects, experiment with materials, and give back to the local community.

The group is divided into three roles: Elders, Inquisitors, and Explorers, each contributing to the survival of the collective. Their philosophy is grounded in a symoblic relic - the Swiss Army Knife - representing versatility and hope of restoring creativity and freedom to society.