Inroads Productions has recently received funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for a project about the Spanish Flu at the end of World War One in Brighton. Over the next year, Inroads will be working in partnership with Brighton General Hospital and the University of Brighton, offering free oral history and archival training for 10 volunteers, with expenses paid towards this. There will be several events over the year and some intensive training in how to collect interviews.
The project will explore the relatively untold history of Spanish Flu in the Brighton and Hove area in the wake of World War One. Working in partnership with Brighton General Hospital, where patients were treated, Gateways to the First World War, and with the Centre for Memory, Narrative and Histories at the University of Brighton, Inroads will deliver information/research workshops using creative learning (drama, writing, music) with young people in schools and colleges and with community groups. They will then work with a group of young people drawn from schools, colleges, youth groups and youth theatres to devise a performance informed by their learning about the Flu, and offer oral history training to enable volunteers to research the topic and collect stories from the descendants of families affected in Brighton. The partners will offer specialist advice and training and space for workshops and events; and Sara Clifford, director of Inroads and experienced community and heritage arts practitioner, will deliver the outreach, develop the performance and manage the project.
Volunteers will get the opportunity to learn how to use the archives at The Keep; visit the Wellcome Trust Library; visit the Creating Exhibitions and Hosting Heritage Events Workshop at the Institute of Historical Research in London (organised by Gateways to the First World War); and enjoy membership of the British Library for a year to undertake further research on the topic. In terms of outcomes, the performance will be shared at two public events, one site specific installation at Brighton General Hospital, where staff, patients and members of the public will be able to follow a short trail through the old main building, experiencing the installation in the place where patients were brought; and an event open to the staff, students and the general public at the University of Brighton. Both events will be accompanied by an exhibition of materials e.g. photos and recordings. The project will also host talks by academic experts about Spanish Flu and World War One, including Professor Lucy Noakes, Hannah Mawdsley and Dr Jaime Kaminski at different times. An illustrated booklet/education pack will be produced.
To register your interest or for further information please contact Sara Clifford at inroadsproductions@mac.com. Please note that there are now only a small number of places remaining.
