Multicultural Britain Exhibitions and Displays
The World of East Dorset
DEED has a variety of exhibitions and displays of differing sizes available for schools, community groups, libraries and museums to hire. This exhibition includes 6 stunning pop-up banners, lightweight and portable, and original artwork from the children of Wimborne First exploring their own family trees.
Where was I born? Where does my family come from? What do I wish for the future?
These are just some of the questions nearly 100 children and young people from 11 schools in East Dorset were asked. The children told us their stories and showed us their photos which DEED put together to produce an exhibition and publish a book called, The World of East Dorset: children’s stories of here and there.
The exhibition and book are currently available to hire from DEED and are ideal for schools, libraries and community centres and events in East Dorset.
State of Play Arts also ran ‘Moving In, Moving On’ drama workshops in schools linked to themes of community, migration, identity and belonging. Please see highlights of their work in Beaucroft School. They also wrote an accompanying teachers’ notes. Here are some useful websites and documents to support these themes across the curriculum.
British Red Cross’ online topical newsletter, Newsthink
The Global Dimension online resources, Refugees Welcome?
Oxfam Global Citizenship guides for English, Maths and Science
The World of East Dorset: Children’s stories of here and there
Compiled by Louisa Adjoa Parker, this A4, full colour 100 page book includes stories from 85 children and young people in the following 11 schools: Beaucroft School, St Michael’s Middle School, Ferndown First School, Ferndown Middle School, Ferndown Upper School, Hampreston First School, Hayeswood First School, St James’ First School, Trinity First School, Verwood First School and Wimborne First School.
Many thanks to the Heritage Lottery Fund who funded this project.
We Were Here Exhibition: Stories about African American GIs posted to Dorset in 1944
An exhibition of photos, film, art and music celebrating the lives and families of the estimated 8,000 African American GIs stationed in Dorset in 1944 before they left for the war in France. Featuring stories and interviews from local descendants of African American soldiers and sailors posted to Weymouth and other towns and villages across Dorset. There is an accompanying Exhibition Guide.
Ideal for Key Stage 2 and upwards and can be linked with work around Multicultural Britain and Black History.
This exhibition is also linked to a Theatre in Education production ‘GI Joe in Dorset’ performed by State of Play Arts. The play is available to view on YouTube click on the link. For more information about the performance contact State of Play Arts directly.
Dorset’s Hidden Histories
This freestanding exhibition available to hire explores 400 years of the presence of black people in Dorset including African American GIs on Poole Quay and a Freed enslaved American living in Bournemouth.
There is an accompanying book available to buy from DEED and the hire of the exhibition can include an optional creative writing workshop with Louisa Adjoa Parker, a local poet, writer and black history researcher.
Ideal for Key Stages 3 & 4 and upwards and can be linked to work around Multicultural Britain and Black History.
“The display was fascinating and certainly did reveal a history of Dorset that remains largely hidden. The accompanying workshop was thought provoking and informative. I would definitely urge other groups to make use of it.”
— Community Development Officer, West Dorset District Council
“The stories here provide a glimpse into the lives of people who are connected both to East Dorset and elsewhere in the world. Through them, we can learn a little about other cultures, and understand that as human beings we share the same loves, fears, hopes and dreams.”
— Louisa Adjoa Parker (The World of East Dorset Exhibition)