Bristol Brunel Academy Summerhill Academy
The World Reimagined is a ground-breaking, mass participation art education project to transform how we understand the Transatlantic Slave Trade and its impact.
Created with artists, teachers and educationalists, The World Reimagined Learning Programme is an experiential and transformative journey that empowers students, teachers and school communities to create a future for racial justice.
Two Cabot Learning Federation academies are taking part in the project, Bristol Brunel Academy and Summerhill Academy.
At Bristol Brunel Academy, the design is centred around the theme of Mother Africa. Each portrait represents a small visual glimpse of the African journey. The first depicts its rich, cultural heritage prior to the transatlantic slave trade and leads on to the journey during which so many Africans suffered. The story unfolds into a world reimagined where there is racial justice and differences are unifying rather than divisive.
Within the design, the African and British flowers symbolise hope and understanding and the artwork is underpinned by a calm but often turbulent sea and a vibrant sky that contains a new constellation. The stars follow the path of the transatlantic slave trade triangle to recognise the suffering, impact and legacy of slavery.
Rachel Taylor-Evans, Curriculum Leader for Art at BBA, said: “Students really embraced this project, and a lot of thought and passion went into the design. I feel it is important to bring issues that are happening around the world into the classroom so we can educate and debate with our students the importance of these matters.”
At Summerhill Academy they followed the theme of ‘Threads of Africa weaving around the world’. The children designed and painted the Summerhill globe with words and fabric patterns inspired by the colours and proverbs relating to traditional fabrics.
One of the children who took part, Ahmed aged 10, said: “I am really proud to be able to show off some of our history and culture to other children in school and in Bristol.”
Chris Barrett, Principal at SA, said: “Summerhill Academy prides itself on the way it embraces its community’s heritage and traditions and weaves them into its Personal Development curriculum, something which OFSTED rated as ‘Outstanding’ in a visit earlier this year.”
The globes also featured as part of our CLF Arts Festival in July and were hugely admired by students, teachers, families, and members of the community.
