Call for participation in or hosting workshops in 2024-5:
Second World War: Languages, cultures and legacies is an engagement project that has been initiated to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in 2025 and builds on The National Archives’ (TNA) experience of leading engagement projects for First World War commemorations. The project aims to highlight the Second World War as a multiethnic, multi-faith truly global conflict with legacies for future generations. Participants will be offered a way of seeing themselves in a key moment of national remembrance. The workshops outlined below will feed into anniversary events scheduled to take place in 2025.
Outline
A two-hour workshop, which will include an opportunity to view and discuss records from the War Office and Colonial Office that speak to the multilingualism and cultural diversity of the combatants and non-combatants that became engaged in the conflict. The workshops will include the chance to take part in recording responses to the archival records to be shared during anniversary events next year.
Who are we targeting?
Four different diasporic communities (Caribbean, East African, Polish, South Asian). If you are a member of a community group with these heritages or organisation that works with these communities, please get in touch.
Hosting
Organisations or community groups to co-host the event with TNA, ideally as an in-person event in a location with a TNA staff member to be present and helping to co-lead the event. In the case of significant uptake of the offer, some delivery may be moved online.
Facilities
The workshop requires a room and sufficient chairs.
Numbers
15-20 people per workshop.
Resources
TNA will provide all archival/recording equipment.
Feedback/Reflections:
TNA will be collecting (with permission) responses from those taking part for inclusion in future promotion of the project and possibly for deposit at participating Archive Service Offices.
If this opportunity is of interest, please contact Iqbal Singh (iqbal.singh@nationalarchives.gov.uk) or Elizabeth Haines (elizabeth.haines@nationalarchives.gov.uk) for more information or for an informal chat.