The Centre for Hidden Histories: Community, Commemoration and the First World War – Page 9 – Community, Commemoration and the First World War

Event: We Will Remember Them Exhibition

September 7, 2017September 25, 2017Michael Noble

William Robinson Clarke WW1 RAF pilot from Jamaica, photo courtesy of the Royal Aero club

LAUNCH EVENT:

Friday 22nd September 6:30pm

New Art Exchange

39-40 Gregory Boulevard, Nottingham NG9 6BE

The We Will Remember Them project, funded by the Centre for Hidden Histories, aims to uncover hidden narratives that will strengthen the coverage of under-represented groups in relation to the centenary of the Great War. Empire troops fought in the most infamous battles of the war, including at Ypres and Passhendaele, but the hidden histories of soldiers from the Caribbean and South Asia still need to be recovered and their stories told, not only in scholarly monographs but in other cultural forms too. Consequently, this project aims to ensure that we try to avoid the real risk that younger generations will conceive of the war as fought entirely by white soldiers.

The research output has been constituted in the form of a travelling exhibition which will facilitate the general public becoming (more) aware of the courage, sacrifice and stories of “Commonwealth” soldiers. The exhibition will tour the East Midlands and London and will launch at New Art Exchange on the 22nd September.

Following the launch, the exhibition will travel to the following venues:

25th-29th September Nottm. County Hall, West Bridgeford NG2 7QP
2nd-5th October Clifton Cornerstone, Southchurch Drive, Clifton NG11 8EW
6th-12th October Bulwell Riverside, Main Street NG6 8QL
12th-18th October Mary Potter Centre, 76 Gregory Blvd. NG7 5YH
18th-23rd October Nottm. Central Library, Angel Row NG1 6HP
23rd-26th October Nottm. City Council, Loxley House, Station Street NG2 3NG
27th October-1st November St Anns Valley Centre, 2 Livingston Rd NG3 3GG

Please contact nottinghamblackarchive@gmail.com for more information.

This project is delivered in association with Renaissance One

Impact: Reflections on the COREL Project with Dr Nick Baron and Culture Syndicates

August 16, 2017September 24, 2017Larissa Allwork

Led by Dr Nick Baron, The COREL Project (Curating Online Resources for Engagement and Learning) has been working with the Life Lines community group in order to develop an easy to use and accessible online platform for presenting textual materials. A work in progress, it is hoped that the final platform will enable the display of documents held by archives, libraries, museums or private collections. In the course of developing specifications and a prototype of the platform, the COREL project worked with World War One era documents contributed by Life Lines members as well as materials from the University of Nottingham’s Sir George Buchanan collection. As part of the co-productive elements of this project, Nick employed Culture Syndicates, a Nottingham based Heritage and Arts consultancy company. This was in order to assist with building the relationship with Life Lines and organising key activities like focus groups. I caught up with Nick and Charlotte Pratley, Director of Culture Syndicates. We discussed the contribution that companies like Culture Syndicates make to the co-production process between universities and community partners.

Impact and Events: New Play at Lakeside Arts tackles a ‘Hidden History’ of the 1916 Easter Rising

August 11, 2017August 16, 2017Larissa Allwork

On 7th October 2017, Lakeside Arts will be hosting a performance of the Centre for Hidden Histories sponsored show, ‘The Sherwood Foresters of 1916’. Developed with Professor James Moran (English, University of Nottingham), Professor Fintan Cullen (Art History, University of Nottingham), theatre director, Sarah Stevenson and performed by Year 9 students at Hall Park Academy, the play seeks to uncover the hidden narrative and the unheard voices of the Sherwood Foresters who fought during the Easter Rising of 1916. Of the significance of this research project in uncovering a difficult and provocative ‘hidden history’ of the First World War, James commented:

James appearing on BBC Radio Nottingham to discuss the Sherwood Foresters project, 26 June 2017.

“Our research examines the legacy of the Sherwood Foresters who fought during the Easter Rising in Dublin. These men, from Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire in the English Midlands, suffered the greatest casualties of the British regiments involved in the insurrection, and participated in the firing squads that executed the rebel leaders. Yet the public and artistic memorialising of these English soldiers is not widely known, and our interdisciplinary work tells the unfamiliar story of what happened to the Sherwood Foresters after the fighting of Easter Week ceased.”

Devised and rehearsed through a series of five workshops at Hall Park Academy, the performance of the play will start at 7.30pm in the Djanogly Theatre. Tickets are free from Lakeside Arts but booking is advised. The play is suitable for those aged twelve and above.