The National Maritime Museum marks 2013's International Slavery Remembrance Day with a series of free family-friendly events. Taking place throughout the Museum and around Greenwich on Friday 23 August, the programme includes music, workshops and talks and culminates in a commemorative ceremony by the river Thames.
This year's events explore the National Maritime Museum's vast collections relating to the trade of enslaved people as well as focusing on the many local connections to be found in the Greenwich World Heritage Site. Actor and broadcaster Burt Caesar will act as Master of Ceremonies for the day, which will also see art historian Dr Temi Odumosu discussing the controversial Cruickshank caricature The New Union Club; composer Dominique LeGendre giving a talk on black composers from the period of enslavement; and historian S. I. Martin revealing the hidden impact of the transatlantic slave trade on a walk around Greenwich.
On 23 August 1791, the first successful slave uprising in the western hemisphere took place in Haiti. This event led to the island's independence and was a major step towards the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade. Now designated by UNESCO as International Slavery Remembrance Day, the National Maritime Museum has marked 23 August for the past 15 years to highlight transatlantic slavery as a maritime history.
Event details:
Dr. Temi Odumosu: The New Union Club
Art historian and creative educator Dr. Temi Odumosu gives a talk about George Cruickshank's controversial The New Union Club - considered to be one of the most racist and complex prints of the 19th Century - exploring the themes and attitudes depicted in the caricature.
Suitable for ages 16
12.30
Dominique LeGendre: Black Composers in the period of Enslavement
Critically acclaimed composer Dominique LeGendre discusses the impact and work of influential black composers during the period of enslavement, including the celebrated Ignatius Sancho.
Suitable for all ages
14.00
Life of Ignatius Sancho interactive tour
Storyteller Rich Sylvester leads an interactive family learning tour around Greenwich Park, exploring Ignatius Sancho's early life. The tour starts at Yinka Shonibare MBE's eminent Nelson's Ship in a Bottle and concludes at Georgian villa, Ranger's House. At the end of the tour, participants will visit the plaque commemorating Sancho in the park, where there will be a ceremony investigating the importance of names in which young people will leave theirs in remembrance.
Suitable for ages 10 , maximum of 30 places on each tour
12.00, 15.00
Walk to St. Alfege Church
Historian S. I. Martin leads a walking tour from the National Maritime Museum to St. Alfege Church looking into the impact that the slave trade had on all the local families of Greenwich. The walk begins at the Group Entrance of the Museum.
Suitable for all ages
14.00
Youth Advisory Group textile workshop
Join the Youth Advisory Group in creating prints using adinkra symbols at their textile workshops. Adinkra symbols, originating from Ghana and the Ivory Coast, are not only used as decoration but also represent objects, which capture evocative messages that carry traditional wisdom, aspects of life or the environment.
Suitable for all ages
11.30, 14.00
Songs of Freedom: workshop
Singing group Ethnovox lead this workshop which explores how songs were used as a powerful medium of resistance whilst bringing about a message of solidarity, hope and freedom.
All ages and abilities welcome
13.00, 15.30
Alternative Gallery Tour: mobile learning session
Take a tour of The Atlantic: Slavery, Trade, Empire gallery with an computer tablet to learn about the movement of peoples, good and ideas across and around the Atlantic Ocean from the 17th century through to the 19th century.
Suitable for all ages
12.30
What's in a Name? workshop
Uncover the journeys that have brought people's names to Britain, and discuss what your name means to you in this family workshop.
Suitable for all ages
11.00, 13.30
Tracing History: archive session
Join S. I. Martin in the Museum's Compass Lounge to investigate transatlantic slavery through rare and revealing manuscripts, and unlock hidden histories of enslaved people and their struggle for freedom.
Suitable for ages 10
11.30
Closing ceremony
Broadcaster and actor Burt Caesar leads the closing ceremony of 2013's International Slavery Remembrance Day which takes place by the River Thames at the Water Gates at the Old Royal Naval College. Participants are invited to throw white rose petals into the river in an act of silent commemoration.
Suitable for ages 14
16.15
< Back to the newsThe National Maritime Museum comprises three sites: the Maritime Galleries, the Royal Observatory and the Queen's House. The museum aims to illustrate for ev...
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