People’s History Museum is putting environmental action at the centre of its October half term activities with ‘There is no planet B’ creative disobedience day on Sunday 27 October.
This is a day for families that is designed to inspire both young children and teenagers, that has been created in partnership with organisations, campaigners and communities so that all can find out how they can make a difference.
Liz Thorpe, Learning Officer at People’s History Museum, says, “People’s History Museum tells the story of ideas worth fighting for, and in a year where we’ve focused upon the past, present and future of protest, there can be no campaign that is uniting and galvanising people more powerfully than the campaign for climate action. The day is an open invitation for people to find out more about what they can do to play their part and to meet those who are both working for and championing campaigns for the environment.”
The Royal Horticultural Society is running workshops about climate resilient green spaces. Lancashire Wildlife Trust will be focusing upon the wildlife in back yards and gardens, and showing what people can do to improve these spaces for nature. There is also the chance to get hands-on with the Trust’s Bog Experience! Visitors can join the team from People’s History Museum to make seed bombs to take away and release into a green space. And Manchester Museum will be joined by special guests from its vivarium, including a Red Eyed Tree Frog. These amphibian friends bring with them the reminder that unless people act on climate change, species such as these are in danger of extinction.
Amongst those supporting the day’s activities are Youth Focus North West’s POSH Ambassadors (Pioneers of Sustainable Hope) and Extinction Rebellion for young activists, known as Rising Up! Manchester Families. Visitors can meet and talk to local campaigners and find out how to get involved themselves.
People’s History Museum’s textile artist, Helen Mather, will be inspiring creativity by inviting people to contribute to a piece of artwork that Rising Up! Manchester Families will be able to use at future campaigns. The POSH Ambassadors will be running an animation workshop where you can create a stop motion film to help get your own protest message out.
All day People’s History Museum will be encouraging creative disobedience; the art of unusual acts of mischievous protesting. In addition to the seed bombs, there is the chance to play ping pong, hula hoop and draw with chalk on the floor; whilst finding out how these fun activities have featured as part of protest campaigns from around the world.
‘There is no planet B’ creative disobedience day takes place from 12.00pm to 3.00pm, with no booking required and free entry (pay what you feel at the event). Special educational needs and disability (SEND) requirements will be a key provision throughout the day. There will be relaxed opening (11.00am – 12.00pm) and closing hours (3.00pm – 4.00pm) ensuring anyone with sensory sensitivities will be able to enjoy the activities at a less busy time. A quiet room will be available throughout the day, and ahead of this PHM’s Social Story can help to prepare individuals for their visit. The museum’s Left Bank cafe bar will be marking the occasion with a Meat Free Sunday by serving a plant based menu for the day.
