NEWS RELEASE: ARTIST CALL OUT FOR PLAQUE TO MARK ABOLITIONIST FREDERICK DOUGLASS AT THE EVERYMAN
Jackie Pease
Hi Does Liverpool,
I’m Mei from the Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse.
We’re doing an artist open call for plaque to mark abolitionist Frederick Douglass at the Everyman.
The winning submission will receive an artist fee of £1,000; a separate budget exists for creation and installation.
I was wondering if it would be possible for you to share the news with your community on newsletter or social media so that more artists know about the news.
I've attached the assets for the social media feed, please let me know if you need any more material
Best,
Mei X
From: Chun-Mei Wang
Sent: Thursday, October 12, 2023 11:50 AM
Subject: NEWS RELEASE: ARTIST CALL OUT FOR PLAQUE TO MARK ABOLITIONIST FREDERICK DOUGLASS AT THE EVERYMAN - 12.10.23
ARTIST CALL OUT FOR PLAQUE TO MARK ABOLITIONIST FREDERICK DOUGLASS AT THE EVERYMAN
In 2021 the Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse discovered, thanks to historian Laurence Westgaph, that prominent abolitionist Frederick Douglass spoke at Hope Hall (now the site of the Everyman Theatre) back in 1860. Today they announce a commission for an artist with a connection to Liverpool City Region, to create a plaque for the front of the Everyman theatre to commemorate Douglass and be a lasting physical reminder of the struggle for freedom and reform.
Laurence, historian in residence at National Museums Liverpool, collaborated with local theatre company Falling Doors and the theatres to explore the role of the slave trade in the development of the city. As he explains,
“There were four writers on the project and as we did more research, we discovered that Douglass had spoken on the site of what is now the Everyman Theatre. I’m looking forward to working with the team to find an artist to create a fitting plaque to detail Frederick Douglass’ role not just as an abolitionist but as a social reformer, feminist and orator of great importance.”
If you’re an artist with a connection to Liverpool City Region (either by birth or as a current resident), then you’re invited to submit your designs for a plaque which must include a representation of Douglass and the following text:
“Liberty is meaningless where the right to utter one’s thoughts and opinions has ceased to exist.”
Frederick Douglass, 1818-1895
An American social reformer, abolitionist and statesman, who spoke at Hope Hall on this site in 1860
Submissions will be reviewed by a panel including Laurence Westgaph (Liverpool Black History Research Group) and Adeyinka Olushonde (Liverpool Black Mens Group), Dr Teena Cartwright-Terry (Chair of the theatres’ Diversity Action Group), Nancy Msiska (Falling Doors Theatre Company and Young Everyman Playhouse Graduate), Lucy Byrne (Director of dot-art) and Mark Da Vanzo (CEO, Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse). The winning submission will receive an artist fee of £1,000; a separate budget exists for creation and installation.
Dr Teena Cartwright-Terry said:
“A deeply passionate activist and powerful orator, Frederick Douglass worked tirelessly for civil rights, women’s rights and the abolition of slavery. It is a duty and a privilege to study, understand and celebrate his connection to our amazing and diverse city. We have a brilliant team with Laurence and the Liverpool Black History Research Group working alongside A level history students to research and honour his legacy and to highlight this on our Everyman site in a beautiful way for future generations.”.
The plaque will be positioned on the front of the Everyman to the right of the main entrance. It will be unveiled on Friday 19 January 2024, 164 years since Douglass spoke at Hope Hall.
Submissions, which are encouraged from Global Majority artists, must be received by midday on Monday 20 November and full details are available at Artist call out for plaque to mark abolitionist Fredrick Douglass at the Everyman | Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse theatres (everymanplayhouse.com).
…ENDS/…
NOTES TO EDITORS About Frederick Douglass Considered to be one of the most important African Americans of the 19th century and one of the most significant writers and orators in American history, Frederick Douglass was born a slave and escaped at the age of 20. He championed the abolition of slavery, women’s rights and freedom for Ireland. Trips from the US would bring him into Liverpool and he spoke at a number of places in the city to champion his causes. On 19 January 1860 he spoke at Hope Hall, a chapel which in 1964 became the Everyman Theatre.
About The Streets Where We Live In 2021 the theatres worked with local historian Laurence Westgaph and Falling Doors Theatre to create a bespoke historical walking tour of the city, exploring Liverpool’s role in the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Four writers - Ashleigh Nugent, Marjorie Morgan, Paislie Reid, RJ Lloyd - were invited to join Laurence for one of his walking tours and create any kind of written response they chose, based on what they learnt. The depth and extent of the slave trade’s impact on the development of the city of Liverpool was discovered, and through writing and performances, The Street Where We Live allowed audiences the opportunity to see countless landmarks, monuments and streets names under a new perspective. There is an educational digital series available for free at www.everymanplayhouse.com
About the Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse Diversity Action Group The Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse strive to be an organisation that understands what it means to be a welcoming and safe space for all, aiming to reflect the diversity of our communities through the work on our stages, our workforce, those we partner with, our engagement activities and by ensuring our buildings are as accessible as they can be. The Diversity Action Group was set up in 2020 to take forward this commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and Arts Council England’s Inclusivity and Relevance Investment Principle. It consists of staff, board trustees and co-opted members of the public (who receive a fee for their involvement). You can read more and see meeting minutes www.everymanplayhouse.com/diversity-action-group
Liverpool Black History Research Group Established in 2019, Liverpool Black History Research Group is a collective of community led researchers investigating and raising awareness of Liverpool’s long black presence. The important contribution of people of African descent to Liverpool’s development has gone largely unacknowledged and we are committed to revealing this forgotten history. Its purpose is to share historical knowledge and offer instruction in research skills and techniques, providing learning, training and employment opportunities for the people of Liverpool. The group is registered as a not for profit business, led by local historian and PhD student, Laurence Westgaph. More information is available on their website www.lbhrg.com/
Liverpool Black Men’s Group Established in May 2020, Liverpool Black Men’s Group provides a forum for discussion of issues pertaining to the Black experience in Liverpool, with the hope that it can inspire Black men to become politically and socially active within Liverpool and further afield. The group are keen that this should not be seen as an exclusively male, sexist or misogynist endeavour, but rather a clarion call to Liverpool’s Black men to catch up with their Black sisters, working in partnership, where necessary on issues that concern the Black community locally and globally. More information is available on their website www.liverpoolbmg.com/
About Falling Doors Theatre Set up in 2014 by Artistic Director Sarah Van Parys, with Creative Producer Nancy Msiska joining in 2018, Falling Doors Theatre produce theatre primarily with local actors and writers; developing and staging both new writing and thrilling plays, with a particular focus on: · Re-telling forgotten or unheard stories featuring historical figures or invisible heroes · Stories that challenge audience perceptions on the world we live in, stirring debate and self-analysis · Dystopian stories with twists and turns, which fracture our view on reality Falling Doors Theatre is a graduate company of Young Everyman Playhouse [YEP] and you can find out more information on their website www.fallingdoorstheatre.co.uk
About dot-art Supporting visual artists and championing creativity as an integral part of daily life, dot-art focus on sustainability and collaboration. They sell locally sourced, affordable art, working with businesses to put art in the workplace and public realm, running art classes and working with schools and community groups. All this is underpinned by a unique membership scheme for artists in the North West, giving access to all the activities above and a package of support and advice, creating and developing artists’ careers. Since 2022 dot-art have been collaborating with the Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse on an artist in residence programme and regular artist exhibitions. More information is available on their website www.dot-art.co.uk/
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Alex J Lennon
Mei,
I don't really do "heroes" but if I have any then Frederick Douglass is one of them.
I often share this quote,
"Let me give you a word of the philosophy of reforms. The whole
history of the progress of human liberty shows that all
concessions yet made to her august claims have been born of
earnest struggle. . .
If there is no struggle, there is no progress. Those who profess
to favor freedom and yet deprecate agitation are men who want
crops without plowing the ground. They want rain without thunder
and lightning. They want the ocean without the roar of its mighty
waters.
The struggle may be a moral one or it may be a physical one, or it
may both moral and physical, but it must be a struggle. Power
concedes nothing without a demand. It never has and it never will.
Find out just what a people will submit to, and you have found out
the exact amount of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon
them; and these will continue till they are resisted with either
words or blows, or with both. The limits of tyrants are prescribed
by the endurance of those whom they oppress."
Sadly this is exceeding accurate today.
Would love to support in any way I can.
Alex
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