St Pauls Carnival to host A Year Since Colston panel discussion
Posted on: 02 Jun 2021Activists, artists and community groups will be asking 'What Next?', a year on from Bristol's historic Black Lives Matter protests.
St Pauls Carnival will be hosting a community panel discussion this month to discuss the legacy of Bristol's Black Lives Matter protests that saw demonstrators topple a statue of 17th-century slave trader Edward Colston in summer 2020.
Taking place at Docklands Community Centre in BS2 on Saturday 12 June, 'What Next? A Year Since Colston' will delve into the impact of those events and gauge speakers' hopes for Bristol's future now that the statue no longer stands.
Tickets to the in-person event are free, but due to COVID-19 capacity limitations, spaces are limited. Find out more and register to attend here.
On 7 June 2020, all eyes turned to Bristol as more than 10,000 people took to the streets to demonstrate against police brutality in response to the murder of George Floyd.
The city made global headlines as protesters pulled down a city centre statue commemorating Edward Colston - the existence of which had been fiercely debated for years prior - and dragged it into the harbour.
The day's events sparked an important conversation across Bristol and around the world: how should we remember those with contentious histories? While many saw the day as a moment of release and relief, others saw it as an attack on their history and culture.
As part of a community arts programme organised in collaboration with Bristol-based photographer Colin Moody, St Pauls Carnival have put together a series of workshops with four secondary schools, focussing on themes of activism, 'everyday activism' and hopes for the future.
The latest entry in the series, 'What Next? A Year Since Colston', will see Colin Moody, activist Jen Reid, artist Ngaio, filmmaker Michael Jenkins and a representative of Montpelier High School (formerly Colston Girls' School) explore the significance of, and reaction to, the events of last summer.
Following an introduction from an as-yet-unannounced special guest poet, the event will feature a welcome and introduction from Ngaio before diving into discussions with the full panel.
The event will fall just a few days after this Friday's (4 June) unveiling of the Colston statue at the M Shed, with the harbourside museum set to display it alongside a selection of placards from last year's demonstration.
Anyone can attend, but with spaces limited, those interested are encouraged to register as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
For more information, or to follow news and updates in the coming weeks, head to the St Pauls Carnival website or find the team on Twitter.
Main Image: Brodie Collins
Read more:
Article by:
Editor - 365Bristol.com & LOUD Magazine
Matt is a Journalism graduate and writer, passionate about supporting Bristol music, art and independent business. Get in touch via email at matt@365bristol.com.
