Here Meets There and Now Meets Then
The CD-ROM 'Here Meets There and Now Meets Then', was created in conjunction with the national commemoration of the bi-centenary of the abolition of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. Funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund the CD-ROM will be launched at Aberdeen Art Galley on June 24 and will be made available to community centres, libraries and schools throughout the city. The CD-ROM is the result of a series of activities, organised by Aberdeen City Council's Arts Development team, which took place in both formal and informal educational and community settings throughout Aberdeen - raising citizen awareness of Scotland’s and Aberdeen’s specific historic role in the slave trade.
Groups of young people attending workshops at WhiteSpace and pupils from Harlaw Academy Enhanced Curriculum worked alongside artists and film makers from the Arts Development team. Using the story of Peter Williamson, who was kidnapped along with 700 children from the North east and sold to a plantation owner, and parallel examples from slavery records held by local archives, the project highlights exploitation of children both historically and in current international contexts.
Ideas and themes were explored with a wide variety of the community in a creative manner to allow a freedom to analyse and an open forum to cross reference historical and contemporary issues. To facilitate this work, artists, archivists, researchers, storytellers and arts workers collaborated to develop a series of interlinked workshops and events.
The CD-ROM uses various methods to engage young viewers including original artwork, self-scripted films, workshop activities, historical information and news on current international relief work. Whilst introducing the topic of the transatlantic slave trade and reflecting on those enslaved, the abolitionists, and the historic influence on Scottish trade, the package also encourages children to creatively question why child labour and slavery is still an important issue that directly affects the world they live in.
The project was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and Aberdeen City Council.
The project was supported by Awards for All, Scottish Government, The Kirk of St. Nicholas Uniting, Third World Centre, Scottish Storytelling Centre, Feed the Children UK, Shore Porters Society, JC Rennie & Johnstons of Elgin.
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