If you come to this series of workshops, you will join us on a journey to remember the past, through literature, art and movement.
Each workshop will begin with a reading from Caribbean literature, which you will be sent in advance. The readings will focus on the power of the arts to express difficult memories and tell difficult stories to acknowledge the past and work towards reconciliation.
You will be invited to share your thoughts and feelings regarding difficult memories and stories from your own communities, through art.
There will be three activities to encourage you to express your stories in different ways: through writing, visual arts and movement.
The session will end with a short discussion.
These workshops will be a safe and inclusive space, where you will be able to express difficult memories and tell challenging stories, which will be heard and discussed with compassion.
All are welcome.
Background
The Black Lives Matter movement, the toppling of statues and the debates regarding decolonisation of the curriculum all show how important it is for our public narratives to include a wider range of memories, and to acknowledge the violence of history. Indeed, voicing memories, especially traumatic memories but also beautiful ones and acknowledging everybody’s part in the past can pave the way to reconciliation and a more inclusive community. The arts give us a medium to express what is difficult to say straightforwardly, and to reach out to each other when we don’t know what to say. As such, art can be a powerful way to move people forward together.
This workshop will be a platform to express and meet around memories, in the hope that we can work for better understanding and inclusivity. We hope to offer you a safe space to express anger and incomprehension in order to weave reconciliation in the hope of humbly contributing to building a community where everyone has a voice in Coventry.
Facilitators
The sessions will be planned and facilitated by academic Orane Onyekpe-Touzet, artist Shaquira Lue and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Advisor Jade Campbell.
Practical information
The workshop last 2 hours with a break for refreshments and free discussions.
You can attend as many of the three workshops as you like, each are unique and work as a journey but also work independently.
