The World Reimagined comes to Brighton & Hove
Brighton & Hove will be one of the host cities for The World Reimagined – a ground-breaking national art education project that works to transform people’s understanding about the Transatlantic Slave Trade, its impact on all of us and to help us work together to make racial justice a reality.
The World Reimagined will see trails of large-scale globe sculptures in several cities across the UK from August to October 2022.
Turner Prize nominated artist Yinka Shonibare CBE’s original globe sculpture, The World Reimagined is the inspiration for the entire project, and his globe sculpture will be the base canvas on which commissioned artists can create their own designs.
Each host city will present a set of 10 globes creating a 60 - 90 minute walking trail. Each globe will be decorated by commissioned artists who will express one of nine themes from the Journey of Discovery of the Transatlantic slave trade.
Principal artists designing globes for the national project include Lakwena Maciver, Zak Ové, Nicola Green, Maxim (Prodigy), Kimathi Donkor and Lina Viktor.
You can find out more by visiting The World Reimagined website.
Opportunity for artists
The World Reimagined are currently running an Artists Open Call for paid commissions to participate and are inviting artists from across the country, from all backgrounds, and at any stage of their careers to submit their proposed designs.
Artists who may be interested in participating can sign up on the website to find out more.
Once signed up, they will be able to access masterclasses and submit their designs. Submissions close at 5pm on 31 December 2021.
All entries will be considered for commission by Turner Prize winning artist Chris Ofili CBE; senior curator Renée Mussai; Chisenhale Gallery Director Zoé Whitley; and Professor Matthew Smith, Director of UCL’s Centre for the Study of Legacies of British Slavery.
Community programme
Wrapped around the trails will be a broader learning and community programme. Bursaries will be available to schools across the city and selected schools will participate in the Globe Programme for free, supported by an artist across two years, to embed arts-based learning and anti-racist practice into their teaching.
The nine themes of the Journey of Discovery are at the heart of The World Reimagined. Community co-ordinators will work with schools, community groups, sporting and cultural organisations in Brighton and Hove to co-create meaningful spaces for conversations, highlight and celebrate local stories and host activities and events around these themes.
There will also be partnership opportunities for local and national businesses.
Councillor Martin Osborne, co-chair of the city’s Tourism, Equalities, Communities & Culture Committee, said:
“We are looking forward to hosting The World Reimagined; we believe it will help to amplify the powerful dialogue taking place in the city around our shared history and racial justice.
“Arts and culture have the potential to sensitively explore the history of the transatlantic slave trade. We expect this project will deliver significant community benefit and have a lasting legacy for those who live in or visit Brighton & Hove.”
Michelle Gayle, co-founder of The World Reimagined, said:
“If we’re going to make racial justice a reality for all, it calls on us to courageously face our shared history with honesty, empathy and grace. If we do that, we can create a future in which everyone can say I’m seen. That’s the mission of The World Reimagined and we’re so delighted to work with the people and communities of Brighton & Hove.”
About The World Reimagined
There will be trails in 7 other cities across the UK, with 250+ schools and colleges participating in a learning programme and 1m+ visitors engaging with the trails in host cities, which include Brighton & Hove, Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, London, Liverpool and Swansea.
The project was launched in May 2021.The trails are being delivered in partnership with global public art producers, Wild in Art. Their previous work includes two other trails in the city, Snowdogs by the Sea and Snailspace.
They were also involved with the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic mascot trail, the award-winning Bee in the City in Manchester and The Big Hoot and The Big Sleuth trails in Birmingham.
