As a means of utilising and extending the primary research unearthed during Beyond the Western front further, identity on tyne has secured funding from Arts Council England for a multi-media creative project titled Presence.

Presence aims to involve seven commissioned BAME writers within the northern region of the UK, to utilise primary research to create original poetry.

Working with partners within the region and/or independently, the writers will create one piece of poetry that will be audio recorded to accompany an interactive installation of voices.

At the same time of the recording of the reading is taking place, the writers will be photographed by Dawn Felicia Knox. These portraits would form part of the final exhibition along with the audio recordings.

 

The commission for each writer involves:

• research into the involvement and contribution of Black, Asian and ethnic minorities involvement and contribution to the First World War;
• writing an original piece of poetry in response to the research;
• audio recording a reading the creative writing;
• portrait of the writer;
• participatory sharing events in conjunction with the final exhibition.

 

This project has now got it’s own website here.