A new project in Harwich aims to gather stories and celebrate the coastal heritage of the area through community engagement and creative activities
Harwich: A cool new project called Collecting Dreams, Shifting Futures just kicked off. It’s all about celebrating the coastal heritage of Harwich and nearby areas like Great Yarmouth and Orford Ness.
This initiative, led by Kinetika, is gathering 150 stories and images that showcase the beautiful coastline. They’re really getting the community involved, which is awesome!
Local groups are joining in through walking tours and visits to heritage sites. It’s a great way to uncover both personal and shared stories.
In Harwich, the Essex Book Festival team teamed up with some talented folks, including filmmaker Marley Karazimba and sound archivist Kate O’Neill. They’ve been working hard to bring these stories to life.
Recently, participants enjoyed a guided heritage tour of the town, which was led by local guides. It sounds like a fun way to learn about the area!
They also held a community activity day at the historic Electric Palace Cinema, featuring workshops in film and storytelling. It was a great chance for everyone to get creative.
There’s even more planned! A second community day is on the way, focusing on African families and refugees. They’ll have workshops for making silk pennants and oral storytelling.
The stories and memories collected will inspire artists to create written works, drawings, and photographs. It’s all about capturing the essence of the community.
These creations will be shared as digital content and displayed as beautiful silk pennants during family-friendly events from May 28-30.
Essex Book Festival director Ros Green shared how amazing it’s been to explore the rich history of Harwich and Orford Ness. She’s excited to help local communities connect with their heritage in new and creative ways.
For more details, check out the link to Historic England’s website!
