About the project

About the project

 

 

We worked with SV2G and individuals of Caribbean heritage to co-research and co-curate the monuments at St Paul's Cathedral related to the French Revolutionary Wars in the Caribbean.

The project adopted a community-centred approach for exploring the history and legacy of British imperialism in the Windward Islands, engaging in a rigorous process of collaborative research, interpretation, and curation. 

Some of our activities included: 

  • an introductory event with representatives from the High Commissions of Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago, and the French Embassy
  • introductory sessions with SV2G contributors
  • three expert-led historical seminars 
  • support with individual historical research
  • collaborative writing retreats

Project aim

The project also aimed to establish a partnership between the Cathedral and SV2G by:

  • promoting SV2G’s charitable mandate through a grant to support a follow-on research project about Caribbean women and resistance
  • harnessing the partnership to strengthen the Cathedral’s Visitor Experience services by improving on-site and online information about our collections, and by updating the Cathedral’s provision and training for equality, diversity, and inclusion  

About SV2G

Visit SV2G's website

SV2G (St Vincent and the Grenadines 2nd Generation) was established in 2003 as an African and Caribbean arts and heritage organisation, based in High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, and serving the largest population of Vincentians in the UK. 

As a registered charity and one of the leading active Vincentian-diaspora organisations, SV2G offers a range of creative arts and heritage programmes that empower and develop young people of various diverse backgrounds. 

SV2G has an excellent track record in delivering high-quality community heritage activities that celebrate their culture and memories. The organisation has developed pioneering new intergenerational forms of learning through engaging with African and Caribbean intangible cultural heritage.

Acknowledgements 

Contributors (SV2G)

Abigail Bernard, Karen John, Joanna Lewis, Judy McDowall, Sherina Murray, Jenni Phillips, Jacqueline Roberts, Joanne Sampson, Cheryl Tissot

Collaborating Partner Project Coordinator
Ms Jacqueline Roberts FRSA 

Collections Community Engagement Project Manager 
Dr Renie Chow Choy 

Historical Consultant
Prof Katherine Astbury, Professor of French Studies, University of Warwick

Historical Advisors
Ms Abigail Coppins, University of Warwick; Prof David Lambert, Professor of Caribbean History, University of Warwick 

Seminar Speakers 
Prof David Lambert; Dr Désha Osborne; Dr Kristy Warren

Cartographer
Dr Gabriel Moss

Graphic Designer 
Davey Podmore - AVIDD Design

Sound Recording
Marlon Lewis - Life in Frames

This project was made possible by the Esmée Fairbairn Collections Fund -- delivered by the Museums Association.  

This community engagement initiative builds upon ‘Pantheons: Sculpture at St Paul's Cathedral, c.1796-1916’, an academic research project hosted at the University of York’s Department of History of Art. We are grateful to Jason Edwards, Greg Sullivan, and Marjorie Coughlan for the art catalogue entries providing information on the monuments. For more information, visit: pantheons-st-pauls.york.ac.uk
 

Images

We are grateful to the following artists for permission to use images in the logo: 

  • The images of Solitude and Delgrès are derived from original sculpted works by Didier Audrat.
  • The image of Nanny of the Maroons is derived from an original sculpted work by Basil Watson.
  • Maison des Esclaves (Island of Gorée, Senegal).
  • ‘A private of the 8th West India Regiment, 1803', National Army Museum, artist unknown, oil on canvas, c. 1803, National Army Museum.
  • ‘Chatoyer the Chief of the Black Charaibes in St. Vincent with his five wives', Agostino Brunyas (Brunias) (London: Stockdale, Piccadilly, 1801), Library Company of Philadelphia.