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The Mayflower 400 anniversary is an opportunity to explore all aspects of the story and the impact of the ship's sailing through a diverse range of cultural events and projects.
Some of the highlights of our programme are listed below and more events can be found in our events listings section.
This section will be regularly updated throughout the commemoration and you can explore each element of the programme in-depth by clicking on each project to view videos, hear from the artists involved and read about the journey to each - as well as viewing event listings associated with each project.
The Box is Plymouth's new heritage attraction, opening with the Mayflower: Legends and Legacy exhibition.
Its flagship opening exhibition will be Mayflower 400: Legend And Legacy, the national commemorative exhibition for the Mayflower 400 anniversary and the largest loans exhibition ever staged by the city of Plymouth.
The creation of a new Wampum belt by the Wampanoag People is a project of huge cultural significance. It will tour at venues across the UK nationally as part of a groundbreaking exhibition
The story of the first Thanksgiving has been much-disputed over the last four centuries - particularly by Native American community who instead mark the occasion with a National Day of Mourning.
The origin of Thanksgiving may be uncertain, and we are right to continue to question it, but what has emerged is a day where true family and charity values have created a positive tradition.
The sensational Roots Up! Hip Hop festival is back on track with a bang as the high-energy team from Plymouth’s Street Factory get set to stage a spectacular show on Plymouth Hoe on the final night of the British Firework Championships.
Shining a spotlight on Hip Hop music, dance and culture, and throwing down a mass dance challenge for the whole community, this big, free party will now take place from 6.15-9.15pm on Thursday 19 August against an amazing ocean backdrop and followed immediately by the most dazzling fireworks displays in the land.
'Speedwell' is a large-scale art installation in Plymouth, which will transform the Mount Batten Breakwater into a public forum for discussion and debate about the impact and legacy of the ship's journey, colonialism and the ecological state of our planet.
Created by local artist collective Still/Moving, 'Speedwell' was funded by Arts Council England and Plymouth Culture as part of the Mayflower 400 commemorations.
The Elephant in the Room is one of the signature digital events in the Mayflower 400 Plymouth programme.
This short film by Beyond Face isn’t a story about a ship, or a journey to another land. It is a story about today and six characters who are still experiencing the impact of our colonial history, in cities that have only just begun to speak about their complex past.
The section below contains links to information about the team behind the fascinating film and how you can watch it.
‘Settlement’ is a digital based programme featuring art, performance, discussion and social interaction from 29 key artists Indigenous to North America and the Pacific.
The programme showcases creative works that question the impacts of colonisation on a wide number of tribal nations who continue to thrive despite its long-term effects.
The Mayflower Autonomous Ship (MAS) is a highly innovative project to design, build and sail the world's first full-sized, fully autonomous unmanned ship across the Atlantic Ocean.
The sailing of this ground-breaking new ship in 2021 will reflect the voyage undertaken 400 years ago when the original Mayflower left Plymouth to journey to America.
At over 100ft in length the Mayflower Autonomous Research will be powered by state-of-the-art wind and solar technology. The revolutionary trimaran vessel will carry on board a variety of drones through which it will conduct experiments during its voyage.
Well-known TV historian Dan Snow is presenting an online documentary which will air on 16 September, marking exactly 400 years to the day since the Mayflower set sail.
'The Mayflower: 400th Anniversary Special' History Hit Live digital programme will reflect the story of the colonists, the impact their arrival had on the Native American people who helped them, and the wider colonial context of this journey.
The Mayflower eventually set sail from Plymouth, UK, on 16 September 1620 to start what would prove to be a treacherous transatlantic voyage to America.
On board were more than 100 men, women and children – passengers and crew from different walks of life across England and the Dutch city of Leiden.
Rachel Carter is a textile artist who can trace her ancestors back to the very places many of the leading Pilgrims hailed from in England before they planned their voyage on the Mayflower.
In our My Mayflower short film, Rachel talks about becoming the 'Pilgrim Woman', which involved 130 cameras taking pictures of her to create a 3D image and a final sculpture which will live in the village of Austerfield - the birthplace of William Bradford himself.
At Southampton's Westquay, from 12-20 September 2020, the Empathy Museum’s 'A Mile In My Shoes' is a shoe shop where visitors are invited to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes – literally.
Wearing a pair of the contributor's shoes, visitors can go for a walk, listening to the shoes' original owner telling them a story.
This Land brings together two nations for an ambitious transatlantic piece of community theatre in 2021.
This Land is an epic theatrical event marking the 400 year anniversary of the Mayflower’s journey and its impact upon arrival in America.
Created and performed by 120 citizens of Plymouth, UK and 30 members of the Native American Wampanoag Tribe from Massachusetts, USA, This Land is the story of what happened then and what it means to us now.
Witness the making of history with this unique and vital piece of theatre, which brings together communities from both sides of the Atlantic.
With text by Nick Stimson and songs written and performed by Seth Lakeman.
Illuminate is a spectacular festival of light taking place around the Mayflower destinations
Here you will find details of news, events, videos and articles relating to Illuminate events planned for 2020 and 2021.
On 10th May 1608, a group of separatists began their escape from the town of Gainsborough’s riverside up the River Trent to Immingham and then on to Amsterdam. They lived in Holland for 12 years before some of them then made their journey to America.
To mark this historic date, West Lindsey District Council have launched PilgrimAGE – a digital campaign that will allow you to explore the history of the Pilgrims and their roots.
Coming in 2021, The Hatchling will see an extraordinary, larger-than-life visitor roam through Plymouth city centre as part of a spectacular live performance that combines ancient myth with innovative puppetry.
As part of Mayflower 400, we are producing different video series covering all aspects of the commemorations.
They include tours of the key locations connected to the story, as well as in-depth interviews with people involved in the programme.
Bassetlaw Museum will welcome representatives of the Wampanoag nation, who will build a traditional wetu in the grounds of the Museum.
The visitors will showcase their heritage through art, craft, music and storytelling, and during the visit there will also be a conference entitled 'The Wampanoag Perspective', highlighting issues of acceptance, freedom and migration.
The Arts Institute, in association with Theatre Royal Plymouth, presents Some Call It Home.
Join us for this provocative multimedia music drama that brings to the stage conflicting perspectives of our uneasy relationship with the land – our home, our planet.
The award-winning Le Navet Bete rounded off their 'Season of Silliness' at Theatre Royal Plymouth this summer with '400: A Comedy' - a fast-paced comedy for all the family which formed part of the Mayflower 400 commemorations.
Watch our short film and discover more about this unique performance - including exclusive interviews with the extremely talented cast and crew.
You'll be the first to hear the latest Mayflower news, events, and more.
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