Citizens of Coventry

Chimiak, Tom ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5328-5335 and Mudhai, Sebbie (2023) Citizens of Coventry. [Video]

Abstract

The output is a short poetry video created by filmmaker Chimiak along with poet Sebbie Mudhai. The research explores the experiences of those living in Citizen's supported housing, inspired by the stories of the residents and the staff who support them especially throughout the Covid experience. Research Process: Eight workshops took place, some specifically for families and some for adults and were led by Mudhai and Chimiak while information gathering. Over 20 residents in total and five staff members of Frank Walsh House and the Gateway, Citizen’s temporary homeless accommodation, took part in a series of workshops to explore their experiences of lockdown and to create a poem. The poem was then recorded with members of the group reading different sections. Chimiak produced an accompanying film which provided a scenic backdrop to the audio and captured those memories of connecting with nature during the pandemic. Research insights: The project created a safe space to discuss issues that have arisen out of lockdown and to remember and reflect on individual experiences. The outcome was inspired by the locations the group members discussed during their workshops, creating a sense of place and time. The sound and images give a sense of authenticity and an emotional connection to the experiences of the participants. The human element of the outcome is through the voice, whereas the film presents a series of landscapes and places where people are mostly not present. The tension between word and image evokes the isolation and solitude remembered by the participants from their experiences of the pandemic. The output shows how editing can become a poetic activity in itself. Dissemination: The National Memorial Arboretum, Burton-on-Trent, Lockdown Landscapes exhibition, the Drum, 5 June 2023 – 9 October 2023 (72,704 visitors). Collected by the National Memorial Arboretum as part of their archive.

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