20160914_160355.jpgWe had a really enjoyable Conversation Cafe this week as part of the HLF funded The Boys on the Plaque project in Brighton with local community publisher QueenSpark Books who specialise in projects about Brighton and Hove’s history.
Thanks to QueenSpark Books for coming, our participants loved the session! ‘I thoroughly enjoyed this afternoon. A great idea and well presented. Thank you’.
Writer and mentor Tim Pilcher, and artist and mentor Paul Collicutt presented information to our group about a new WWI themed graphic novel project due for publication this November 2016, Brighton’s Graphic War.

QueenSpark Books have been working with young people (age 15-24) across Brighton & Hove, to produce a print and online graphic novel based on the lives of the people of Brighton & Hove up to and including the First World War. The project involves local stories and images from the period between 1900-1920 to create and tell some of the lesser known histories of the City.
Material has been drawn from the archives of QueenSpark Books, Brighton & Hove Museum and The Keep, to develop creative learning through exploration of the City’s history.
The 100th anniversary of the Great War marks a moment in time where the organisation could creatively engage young people in understanding the lives of their forebears, and the impact the War had on this city and its people. Under the guidance of experienced professionals from the comics/graphic novel world, participants have been encouraged to use their creativity to work on a graphic novel depicting the lives of the ‘ordinary’ people of the time.
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We also discussed our new project read Love Letters of the First World War which looks like it’s going to be a popular book.
October’s Conversation cafe will be on 12th October 2.30-4.30pm and this will be the final session of the project.
We welcome researchers from The Boys on the Plaque project who will discuss their findings about soldiers who served or fell in the Great War but who attended the Holy Trinity Church (now Fabrica gallery).
They will share these findings with the group, and Strike a Light will be compiling these into a small book in 2017, in time for the bi-centenary of Fabrica and its’ venue.
See you next month!