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Diversity Lewes :October 2024 BHM Event• Title: The Lewes Green Huts Project Exhibition
• Dates: October 26th 2024 (Black History Month)
• Location: [Gorringes former Auction House on Garden Street, Lewes]
• Curator: A.S.KALUME
Concept & Theme:
• Objective:
The Lewes Green Huts Project aims to honor and celebrate the rich, yet often overlooked, history of the green huts in Lewes, particularly focusing on their role as places of transition and temporary refuge. The exhibition will spotlight the stories of Caribbean soldiers who passed through Seaford on their way to fight in World War I, using these huts as spaces for prayer and community before heading to the front lines.
• Theme:
The central theme of this exhibition is "Transience and Memory." The green huts, temporary by design, have witnessed and facilitated various transient activities over the years—from serving as a church for Caribbean soldiers in WWI to hosting local cattle markets and auctions. Through this exhibition, we explore the layered histories of these huts and their role in the journeys of people, particularly the British West Indies Regiment, who used these spaces as a site of gathering, reflection, and preparation.
• Narrative Structure:
The exhibition is organized into three key sections:
1. The Huts as Places of Worship and Community (1915):
This section will delve into the history of the British West Indies Regiment and their use of the huts in Seaford for prayer meetings and community gatherings during WWI. Artifacts, photographs, and personal accounts will illustrate the soldiers' experiences in these spaces.
2. The Green Huts in Local Memory:
Highlighting the huts' roles in local life, this section will explore their varied uses over the decades—from a local market for cattle to an auction house ,venue for antique sales. This will include oral histories and multimedia presentations capturing the voices of Caribbeans in Sussex and how they caninteract with the huts in these capacities.
3. Contemporary Responses:
Featuring a new multimedia work by East Sussex 6th form College aGroup (ESCG) art students, this section will showcase creative responses to the journeys of Commonwealth troops. The students' work will reflect on the historical significance of the huts and reimagine their place in contemporary memory including interpretation of BLM and the migration issues.
Artworks & Artists:
• Selection Criteria:
The selected works aim to represent the diverse histories and uses of the green huts. The criteria include historical relevance, connection to the theme of transience, and the ability to evoke the lived experiences of those who passed through these spaces.
• Featured Artists & Works:
o Multimedia Installation by ESCG Art Students:
A collaborative project that reflects on the journeys of Commonwealth soldiers and the role of the green huts in their wartime experiences.
o Archival Photographs and Artifacts:
A collection of historical photographs and artifacts related to the British West Indies Regiment and the huts' varied uses throughout the 20th century.
Visitor Experience:
• Spatial Design:
The exhibition layout will create a sense of movement and transition, mirroring the temporary nature of the huts and the transient lives of those who used them. Visitors will move through a series of immersive environments that evoke the different eras and uses of the huts, from the somberness of wartime prayer meetings to the bustling energy of a local auction house.
• Interactive Elements:
Interactive displays will allow visitors to engage with personal stories of the soldiers and locals, including listening stations with recorded oral histories and a digital archive where visitors can explore more about the history of the green huts.
• Educational Programs:
A range of educational programs will accompany the exhibition, including guided tours, lectures on the history of the British West Indies Regiment, and workshops with the ESCG art students to discuss their creative process.
Marketing & Outreach:
• Target Audience:
The exhibition is aimed at both local residents of Lewes and a broader audience interested in British and Caribbean history, particularly during Black History Month. Special efforts will be made to engage schools, history enthusiasts, and the Caribbean diaspora.
• Promotion Strategy:
The marketing strategy will include social media campaigns, collaborations with local history groups, press releases, and partnerships with cultural institutions focusing on Black History Month. Special events, such as an opening reception and artist talks, will also be promoted to generate interest.
• Expected Outcomes:
The Lewes Green Huts Project is expected to enhance public awareness of the local history of Lewes, particularly the significant but underrepresented role of Caribbean soldiers in WWI. It aims to foster a deeper understanding of the concept of transience and the ways in which temporary spaces like the green huts serve as pivotal sites of memory and community.
• Next Steps:
Immediate tasks include finalizing the selection of artworks and artifacts, completing the exhibition design, and launching the marketing campaign. Collaboration with ESCG art students will continue, with a focus on integrating their work into the final exhibition layout.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
The Green Huts, Garden Street ,Lewes BN7 1TJ, 11 Garden Street, Lewes, BN7 1TJ, United Kingdom,Lewes, East Sussex
