Throughout February, Lewisham College will be participating in a series of digital workshops hosted by the National Maritime Museum, Queens House and the Know Your Worth support programme.
The workshops have been designed to introduce heritage and historical interpretation career options to creative students. Each workshop will include weekly challenges directed by artists and museum professionals encouraging students to use a variety of theatrical techniques. The project has been adapted for remote delivery and will culminate in a digital showcase at the end of February.
The project has been spearheaded by Know Your Worth, a support and mentorship programme for young under-represented creatives run by Ian Shillito and Sam Punnett, alongside Chi Onura, Learning Programme Producer at Royal Museums Greenwich.
Ian Shillito, who also delivers Performing and Production Arts courses at Lewisham College, said: “I am overjoyed that our students can benefit from this partnership. We started planning during summer 2020 with a number of onsite workshops and experiences scheduled to take place at Queens House. However, we have since had to adapt the project due to the current restrictions.
“Lewisham College is determined to give our young creatives the chance to express themselves in spite of the current climate, encouraging them to consider careers in heritage and to understand that history is their history.”
The project provides an opportunity for students with limited exposure to traditional museum and heritage gallery settings to develop a sense of ownership and belonging, and to be able to link into the wider community.
Chi Onura commented:“As a museum, we are directed by our social purpose and relevance. Working with Lewisham College and the Know Your Worth support programme has been a wonderful opportunity to do this. We believe the varied perspectives that young creatives in our local community bring are integral to enriching the museum’s collections, themes and sharing of diverse histories. We are really excited to see the outcomes of the partnership.
“We hope the partnership offers an opportunity for students to hear first-hand from cultural experts and find out more about pathways into creative careers in heritage sectors. This project aims to be a doorway to our collections and give young creatives agency in learning about our shared histories, growing their cultural capital and forming fresh perspectives on the past.”
Students’ interpretations will be shared on the Royal Museums Greenwich website as well as with local colleges and schools to inspire students across London.
Sam Punnett said:“The concept of finding ways our young creatives can re-examine and explore history is key to this project. We encourage them to address those invisible perspectives and present an ‘alternative’ viewpoint. The outcome is to re-tell stories with a different voice, engage with wider community and make our public spaces accessible for all.”
The new Performing and Production Arts courses at Lewisham College are delivered in partnership with Rose Bruford College of Theatre and Performance. The College's Creative, Performing and Production Arts provision includes a variety of courses for 16-18s and adults designed to nurture performers and creatives to develop skills in production, performance, art and design.To find out more, visit lewisham.ac.uk/courses/creative-arts.
