Reverberate

RE-DISCOVER | RE-IMAGINE | RE-CREATE

Reverberate 2023 funded grassroots youth organisations to run small, locally-based projects that empowered young people to re-discover, re-imagine and re-create their heritage through creativity. This year, each project was inspired by English Heritage sites and stories, including those people commemorated by our blue plaques scheme.

Applications closed in April 2023 and we provided support to eight youth groups across the country with access to English Heritage sites and stories, as well as £2,000 each to complete their project. These groups explored the places, voices and activities that make their chosen heritage story unique and important to them.

Each project engaged critically and creatively with the past and demonstrated how these stories can interact with and impact the present in ways that are meaningful to young people today.

Find out more about their fantastic and inspiring projects below!

Grand Union Orchestra - Voyages in Music

One of the leading exponents of cross-cultural music-making in the UK, Grand Union Orchestra created an original suite of music that charts a journey of migration, in the style of a Caribbean calypso. They visited Tilbury Fort as part of their project, close to where the Empire Windrush docked, and used the site as inspiration for their final piece.

Collage Arts - Connecting Voices

In this project, young people explored connections between their own stories and those of the people who have English Heritage blue plaques dedicated to them in London. Through their research, participants selected the people whose stories most resonated with them in their local borough of Haringey and then developed poetry, song and drama in response. Have a listen to their work here.

group of young people film in Marble Hill House

Rap Club Productions - How to be a Man

This project by Rap Club focused on Philip Stanhope, former resident of Ranger’s House in Greenwich, and the resonance his story has with young people today. Participants created a short film, using the interiors of Marble Hill House, that explores the letters Stanhope wrote to his illegitimate son instructing him on ‘how to be a man’ and relating these words to their own experiences. View their final work here!

young people in historical outfits filming in character

young person with sound recording equipment

Door 84 - York's Youth through the Ages

Young people at Door 84 shared their knowledge and opinions on the experience of being young in York throughout history and then explored heritage sites in the city, such as Clifford’s Tower. They responded to their experience by creating art and displays for their community centre, linking up with a local artist to create the work.

Satyam School of Dance and Music - West Meets East: A Legacy Revisited

Young people at the Satyam School of Dance and Music explored stories connected to composer Yehudi Menuhin, who has a blue plaque at his former home in Westminster, London. They created art, dance and music inspired by Menuhin and other composers. See their work here.

artist Steve Claydon stands next to a silver artwork on a stand

Falmouth University - Pool School Gallery Sculpture Trail

This group of students explored Chysauster Ancient Village in Cornwall and used their visit to inspire the creation of a new outdoor sculpture, which will be installed in the grounds of the Pool School Gallery for the public to enjoy. They worked with artist Steve Claydon to create the artwork, which you can see here.

young people sketching at Chysauster Ancient Village

sketches of nature made by a young person

Independent Arts - The Dark History at Carisbrooke

Young people explored Carisbrooke Castle and Museum on the Isle of Wight to find stories and objects that resonated with them. They used creative media to create work that engages and persuades other young people of the site’s relevance to the wider community today, creating their own ‘zine’ guide to the site – with an emphasis on the spooky!

Want to find out more?

Check out Carisbrooke Castle – The Dark History zine here

Kids on the Green - Notting Hill legacy project

A group of young people researched Claudia Jones, who has a blue plaque dedicated to her at her former residence in Lambeth, London, and the history of the Notting Hill Carnival. They produced a piece of music in response to their research. They’re working hard on the edit – come back soon to hear the final piece!

We’re working with Sound Connections to deliver this programme.

Find out more about them on our Partners page

Sound Connections