Listen to the radio show from the Norwich Unconvention put together by young people
Portrait of a Nation archive
Portrait of a Nation was an amazing project, conceived by Liverpool Capital of Culture, Heritage Lottery Fund and the Cultural Cities Network. It was a major national project run over two years and involving the 17 cities of the Cultural Cities Network, and produced by Orit Azaz who is based in Birmingham and worked with many organisations including No Fit State Circus.
The idea was to reflect the cultural identity of cities through the eyes of young people, looking at history and diversity, distinctive characteristics and hope for the future. Projects run in each city over a period of time culminated in a two-day mega event in Liverpool on 2/3 December 2008 as part of the finale of Liverpool Capital of Culture 2008
Over the next few weeks I will be building up an archive page of material that was gathered during the project. There as much of it as we started with 8 neighbourhood projects looking at the heritage and identity of each, working with a storyteller, animator, film maker, musician, visual artists, radio journalists, writers and more. Through these projects, small groups of young people researched the history of their neighbourhoods, created a distinctive history, motto and coat of arms, and a creative project depending on the lead artist of their area.
BBC Voices (Gary Standley, RichardFair and Wendy Witham), offered journalist and broadcast training, interview techniquess, how to put films together, editing skills and more.
Future Radio helped young people to make jingles, news items and more substantial interview pieces as the students could interview MPs and leaders and even Stephen Fry at an early morning 'hit' at Jarrolds when he was meant to be doing a book launch (his agent wasn't happy!).
These projects were showcased at an Unconvention in Norwich where teams of young people came together - some investigating what could be done to improve the city for young people and some teams documenting what was going on in the work groups. The work teams were paired with people in power in the city - councillors, planning officers, leaders of various organisations. There was a keynote talk by designer and town planner Wayne Hemingway who provoked the young people into action urging them to be bold and not sit back and wait to be asked - seize some kind of voice in the future and get involved.
Teams of journalists, radio presenters and film-makers recorded the discussions through interviews, a radio show, and a zine-style newsletter produced during the day under the guidance of Bill Thompson, a BBC journalist who started up the Guardian online back in the day. Jezz Wright led the film team guiding young people with industry-level cameras and editing equipment and Elli Chapman and Andrew Todd (Toddy) led a Future Radio radio show during the day (listen above).
It was a truly awesome day and from that day, a team of teenagers were selected to go to Liverpool to represent Norwich. {hotos and films will follow in the next few weeks
The idea was to reflect the cultural identity of cities through the eyes of young people, looking at history and diversity, distinctive characteristics and hope for the future. Projects run in each city over a period of time culminated in a two-day mega event in Liverpool on 2/3 December 2008 as part of the finale of Liverpool Capital of Culture 2008
Over the next few weeks I will be building up an archive page of material that was gathered during the project. There as much of it as we started with 8 neighbourhood projects looking at the heritage and identity of each, working with a storyteller, animator, film maker, musician, visual artists, radio journalists, writers and more. Through these projects, small groups of young people researched the history of their neighbourhoods, created a distinctive history, motto and coat of arms, and a creative project depending on the lead artist of their area.
BBC Voices (Gary Standley, RichardFair and Wendy Witham), offered journalist and broadcast training, interview techniquess, how to put films together, editing skills and more.
Future Radio helped young people to make jingles, news items and more substantial interview pieces as the students could interview MPs and leaders and even Stephen Fry at an early morning 'hit' at Jarrolds when he was meant to be doing a book launch (his agent wasn't happy!).
These projects were showcased at an Unconvention in Norwich where teams of young people came together - some investigating what could be done to improve the city for young people and some teams documenting what was going on in the work groups. The work teams were paired with people in power in the city - councillors, planning officers, leaders of various organisations. There was a keynote talk by designer and town planner Wayne Hemingway who provoked the young people into action urging them to be bold and not sit back and wait to be asked - seize some kind of voice in the future and get involved.
Teams of journalists, radio presenters and film-makers recorded the discussions through interviews, a radio show, and a zine-style newsletter produced during the day under the guidance of Bill Thompson, a BBC journalist who started up the Guardian online back in the day. Jezz Wright led the film team guiding young people with industry-level cameras and editing equipment and Elli Chapman and Andrew Todd (Toddy) led a Future Radio radio show during the day (listen above).
It was a truly awesome day and from that day, a team of teenagers were selected to go to Liverpool to represent Norwich. {hotos and films will follow in the next few weeks