FOR this year's commemoration of the 1819 Massacre, the Peterloo Memorial Campaign, in conjunction with the People's History Museum, is inviting members of the public to make a clear and bold statement about what they want a long awaited memorial to look like.
“We feel it's crucial everyone gets a proper democratic say in the design of a memorial dedicated to those who died struggling for the vote.”
Peterloo Plaque
On Sunday 18 August, from midday till 3pm, a team of tame 'photofit' artists will be on hand in the People’s History Museum to transform people's ideas into finished sketches. All are welcome, and those who feel confident enough to put pen to paper themselves are invited to bring their own drawings, from simple thumbnail sketches to finished masterpieces.
“We feel it's crucial everyone gets a proper democratic say in the design of a memorial dedicated to those who died struggling for the vote,” said Paul Fitzgerald of the Peterloo Memorial Campaign.
“Originally the choice of memorial was to have been an open design competition, but now that's been reduced to just three Councillors making the final decision- which is only one fifth of the number of people who died in the massacre. With a deadline looming, we want the design day to act as a chance for the public to say clearly what they want to see, and so we'll be passing all the results on to the Council.”
With interest in the massacre rising every year, there are now numerous other Peterloo events happening around the weekend of the 16th August, including gigs, guided walks, a commemorative march, laying of wreaths at the location and pub readings of Shelley's Peterloo poem. This work called 'The Masque of Anarchy' featured in Manchester International Festival read by Maxine Peake.
If you need inspiration, you can cast your eye over the designs that have already been submitted here.
