Funding has been awarded to a heritage project in Great Yarmouth which highlights the history of the town’s working-class migrant communities as part of Historic England’s ‘Everyday Heritage Grants: Celebrating Working Class History.’
The new grant scheme was launched by Historic England earlier this year to support community-led projects and further the nation’s collective understanding of the past.
Community and heritage organisations were invited to apply for grants to unlock untold local stories and hidden histories.
The project is a partnership between Great Yarmouth Preservation Trust (GYPT) and Reprezent Project. GYPT is a building preservation charity which conserves and promotes the town’s cultural heritage and supports communities through training and employment. Reprezent Project is a community-led social enterprise which engages people at risk of socio-economic exclusion with art and culture. These organisations will work closely with the local community to celebrate the rich history of migration in Great Yarmouth and reveal the ways in which the historic built environment has both shaped, and been shaped by, the diverse communities who call this town ‘home’.
The project will explore themes of home, work and belonging and deliver three main outputs: poetry workshops, a large-scale street mural and a photographic series recording working-class migration, contrasted with photographs of participants’ place of origin and arrival in the town.
Ruben Cruz, Chairman of Reprezent Project, said: ‘’Our organisation’s aim is to support all communities in Great Yarmouth through art and to enrich the town with culture. As an organisation we are so pleased to be able to deliver this project but as a migrant I am over the moon to be able to celebrate the stories of our community. Our project prioritises inclusion and this is the time to show that everyone matters for our town, economy and heritage.’’
Duncan Wilson, Chief Executive of Historic England, said: “Heritage should be for everyone. I am delighted that we are able to provide funding for this project through our Everyday Heritage Grants, which will help to bring our collective and shared history back to life. These grants will enable people to tell their own stories, in their own way, and connect with others in their communities through a shared understanding of their local heritage.
He continued: “The histories of castles and great houses and their inhabitants are well documented, but we know far less about our everyday heritage. From council estates, pubs and clubs, to farms, factories and shipyards, these are the places where most people have lived, worked and played for hundreds of years. We want to explore these untold stories and celebrate the people and places at the heart of our history.”
Everyday Heritage Grants: Celebrating Working Class Histories is one of many ongoing cultural projects that Historic England is delivering in order to shine a light on the diversity of the nation’s heritage.
For more information on the project contact: Ruben Cruz, info.reprezent@gmail.com
Images: Reprezent Project
