Protest and Protection, York Cold War Bunker

Freelance project commissions starting June 2021 - September 2021

The project engaged with a group of 15 young people who attend York’s ‘The Snappy Trust’, a charity that aims to maximise the personal development of children and young people with wide-ranging disabilities. Shout Out Loud supported them to become ‘heritage activators’ with a Cold War Bunker site in York whilst undertaking their Explore Arts Award.

The theme of the engagement was ‘Protest and Protection” and those who took part in the programme learnt what it was like to live under the threat of nuclear attack during the cold war whilst taking inspiration from digital exhibitions of Cold War-era art, including anti-nuclear protest banners from The Peace Museum. The young people met with researchers from York St John University who are exploring the experiences of the volunteers who worked in the Bunker during this period.

I supported the young people to create their own artwork drawing on the themes of protest and protection, which will be showcased in a digital gallery and as a pop-up exhibition. All young people achieved a recognised Art Qualification (Explore Arts Award) for their portfolios produced during the project.

Find out more about the project by clicking on the logos below..