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School of Social Sciences, Humanities & Law

National Lottery support to mark the centenary of the ending of the First World War

19 June 2018

 

Teesside University has received £9,500 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for a project Rememorial WWI: Narratives of Peace in The Tees Valley.

Dr Ben Roberts
Dr Ben Roberts

Made possible by National Lottery players through HLF’s First World War Then and Now programme, the project will focus on exploring and communicating the stories of local people relating to the aftermath of the First World War.

The project will ask the wider community to share artefacts that relate to the First World War, aiming to capture memories attached to them and exploring themes of unemployment, decline of industry, poverty, loss and hope for the future.

Innovative exhibition design will present historical research and visual interpretation to engage audiences and create links between the events of the past and today. The project will support three internships and an estimated 20 volunteers to develop and learn new skills.

Following the recruitment of volunteers during July 2018, the project will run a series of public workshops through November 2018, culminating in a touring exhibition in Tees Valley museums during summer 2019. Through these activities and social media, Rememorial WWI will enable a wide number of people to be involved in retelling the story of how the Tees Valley recovered from the ‘war to end all wars.’

After the armistice of 11 November 1918, Britain faced an uncertain period before the formal end of the war with the signing of the Versailles Peace Treaty in late June 1919. The nation then celebrated on ‘Peace Day’ in July 1919. The project focuses on this often-overlooked period, when hope, despair, joy and fear were all experienced. While certain events, such as the bombardment of Hartlepool and individual military experiences of Tees Valley residents are already extensively charted, Rememorial WWI will preserve personal experiences of local people alongside already known stories.

Rememorial WWI provides us with a unique opportunity to re-examine the impact of the First World War on our area.

Dr Ben Roberts.

Commenting on the award, Co-Project Lead and Historian at Teesside University, Dr Ben Roberts said: 'We are thrilled to have received the support of the National Lottery. Rememorial WWI provides us with a unique opportunity to re-examine the impact of the First World War on our area. It will allow us to commemorate the experiences of the whole community while re-examining exactly what the legacy of the war was and what this means for us today.'

Co-Project Lead and Senior Lecturer in Graphic Design and Digital Media, Charlie Tait, said: 'The HLF funding enables an innovative collaboration between History and Graphic Design to interpret memories, experiences and artefacts into an engaging, content driven form that will help audiences explore the relevance of this period 100 years on.'

Ivor Crowther, Head of HLF North East, added: 'The impact of the First World War was far reaching, touching and shaping every corner of the UK and beyond. Thanks to National Lottery players, communities, like those who will be involved in Rememorial WW1, can explore the continuing legacy of this conflict and broaden their understanding of how it has shaped our modern world.'


 
 
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