Maria Miller welcomes
plans for artistic and cultural commemorations
In a speech yesterday on board
the HMS President, Maria Miller welcomed the launch of a major cultural
programme that will take place across the United Kingdom, marking the centenary
of the First World War.
Leading the programme 14-18 NOW will
work with other organisations across the UK to commission large scale cultural
projects. These projects will encourage people from every community to reflect
on how the First World War has shaped life today.
The programme begins with events
marking the anniversary of the declaration of war on 4 August:
- The Day will begin with a
national service commemoration at Glasgow Cathedral, focussing on the
Commonwealth contribution to the war
- At dusk there will be a
beautiful event focused on the theme of reconciliation at St Symphorien
Military Cemetery in Belgium.
- At 11pm to mark the moment war
was declared Westminster Abbey will lead a national candlelit Vigil inpsiring
communities up and down Great Britain to turn off their lights – with the
exception of a single light source symbolising the light of hope and resilience
which saw the country through the ensuing 4 years
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On platform 1 of London’s
Paddington Station stands a statue of an unknown soldier reading a letter.
14-18 NOW is inviting in the country to write that letter, and all the letters
that the soldier receives will be published on the 14-18 NOW
website.
Welcoming the programme, Maria
Miller said:
The First World War itself
produced and inspired art, much of which lives on to this day. This newly
commissioned work over the next 4 years will complement what has gone before
and help all of us, old and especially young, to pause for a moment in
remembrance of those 4 years a century ago.
Further
information