The World Reimagined, founded by singer, writer and actress Michelle Gayle, is a UK-wide art education project transforming how people understand the Transatlantic Slave Trade and its impact on society. Started in 2022, it has seen large globe structures, painted by both established and up and coming creatives, pop up in cities across the UK. Themes for the globes range from ‘Mother Africa’, through to ‘The Reality of Being Enslaved’ and ‘Echoes in the Present’. There are 103 unique globes in total.
The University of Greenwich has bought nine of these globes, three of each to be displayed in each of the three campuses of Medway, Avery Hill and Greenwich, as part of its commitment to Black History 365 (BH365). BH365 is an organisation which creates educational resources to help students and educators better understand the world’s shared past and present, so that everyone can play a role in creating a future where racial justice is a reality.
EDI Race advisors to the university; Dr Myrtle Emmanuel, Jas Seehra-Pearce and Shirley Joseph said:
“The launch of ‘The World Reimagined' Globes on our 3 campuses, as part of Black History 365, is a significant moment. The project is dedicated to promoting racial justice and rectifying the untold history of Britain's involvement in transatlantic slavery. It aligns perfectly with our University's Race Action Plan, supporting a decolonised agenda and promoting inclusivity and culture as foundational elements in all we do.
“We hope the Globes will unite us as a university community, encouraging difficult conversations about who we are as a society. Our heartfelt gratitude to TWR and everyone who played a role in turning this project into a reality. Your dedication, hard work, and commitment have been instrumental in bringing our vision to life.” -
The university’s Race Action Plan sets out concrete measures to increase the representation, progression and success of Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic students and staff, to create a diverse and culturally inclusive university. The globes were unveiled across each campus week commencing 6th November. The university was honoured to host two of the globes' artists Gayani Ariyarante and Kimathi Donkor, at the unveiling who spoke about the significance of their globes.
Details of each event can be found via the this page.
