I Have A Dream Spoken Word Project

Spoken Word Workshop and Performance

We are inviting young people 13-19 years of age from Hall Green, Sparkhill, Balsall Heath, Kings Heath, Moseley, Sparkbrook and Springfield to take part in a series of spoken word workshops leading up to performances at community libraries across the Hall Green district, during Black History Month in October 2013.

"I Have a Dream" is a public speech delivered by African - American civil rights activist The Rev Martin Luther King, Jr. on August 28, 1963, in which he called for an end to racism in the United States. Delivered to over 250,000 civil rights supporters from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, the speech was a defining moment of the American Civil Rights Movement.

Fifty years later King’s speech is pertinent as ever, his words have a global resonance in countries and nations where citizen’s human and civil rights are violated or denied.

Birmingham’s Black History Month theme commemorates the fiftieth anniversary of what has been regarded, as the most iconic American speech of the 20th century.

The workshops will be led by experienced spoken word artists and performers. They will support young people to develop their own interpretation of “I Have a Dream” speech, making it relevant to them, other young people and society today.

If you are interested in taking part or know of any young people who would be interested in taking part in this exciting historical performance project please contact:

Ian Sergeant Arts Development Outreach Manager, The Drum Arts Centre, 144 Potters Lane, Aston, B6 4UU - email: i.sergeant@the-drum.org.uk Tel: 0121 333 2418

This project is supported by the Arts Champions Scheme, a ground breaking arts initiative that gets Birmingham arts organisations working with residents in their local area.